Nurturing socio-emotional skills in the context of schools

COVID 19 has led us to realise the significance of socio-emotional learning in the development of children. Social-emotional competence in children may differ but the good part is that it can be learned. Child-centred education somewhat went astray when the focus of school education shifted to learning outcomes, objectives, standards, and exam results. But the government policies, acts reforms have consistently stressed upon holistic education that also includes the ability to recognise and manage emotions, develop, and maintain effective relationships, take ethical decisions for self and others and to have an awareness of self. Socio-emotional learning comprises an array of personal and interpersonal skills and attitudes required by the children to succeed in school and life. The schools play a major role in nurturing these skills in children which is why it is important for the educators to find teachable opportunities in the classroom, beyond the classroom and in practices followed in school like mid-day meal or morning assembly.