Member countries of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) consider school health care and nutrition (SHCN) as crucial to improving quality and access to education. Ministries of education have been working with non-government, government, and international organizations to promote increased health and nutrition services in schools through various programs and initiatives.

SEAMEO INNOTECH recognizes this convergence of education with health and nutrition issues and has declared this as a strategic program priority under its 8th Five-Year Development Plan for 2011-2016. Pursuant to its research agenda, SEAMEO INNOTECH conducted a two-phase study on School Health Care and Nutrition in Primary Schools in Southeast Asia. Phase 1 reviews current national policies, frameworks, and programs implemented in support of SHCN in seven member countries: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand. Meanwhile, Phase 2 presents case studies of selected primary schools with good SHCN programs and practices in six countries: Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.

The research report presenting the findings from both phases of the regional study was published on October 2016.