Education plays a particularly important role in explaining health outcomes in the Nordic countries. Our report aims to highlight knowledge gaps and describe the need for research to better understand the connections between education, health, and equality.
The report School achievement and health development in the Nordic countries – Knowledge gaps and concerns about school-age children discusses a series of concerns regarding methodology, theoretical perspective, policy aspects, and ethical and political aspects.
According to the report educational practice should be researched to uncover the mechanism behind gender-based and socio-economic inequalities in school achievement. This would include longitudinal studies over many years.
The report states that school is a working environment for the children, teachers, and other school staff. Therefore, it would be important to close the knowledge gap on breaks, physical activity, and length of lessons in relation to school achievement and health development among school-age girls and boys.