Regional Workshop on Promoting Mental Well-being in Schools Empowers Educational Leaders

Bhubaneswar: A two-day Regional Workshop on ‘Promoting Mental Well-being in Schools’ took place on January 30-31, 2024, at the Regional Institute of Education, NCERT, Bhubaneswar. Organized under the Manodarpan initiative of the Ministry of Education, Government of India, the workshop aimed to sensitize school heads, administrators, and other stakeholders in the field of school education about the well-being of students.

The Manodarpan initiative, which has been successful in promoting well-being among students since the closure of schools due to the Covid-19 pandemic, continues to focus on creating a school climate that facilitates holistic development and well-being.

The workshop, conducted in a blended mode, gathered sixty school administrators and leaders from central and state governments of Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Members of the Manodarpan team from NCERT joined the workshop online, and experienced resource persons in school health and well-being facilitated sessions.

Over the two days, the workshop focused on building an understanding of the significance of mental health and well-being for the holistic development of school students. It aimed to strengthen the school system and mechanisms to promote mental well-being. Expert deliberations guided participants in developing action plans to create a school environment conducive to students’ well-being.

The workshop concluded with planning activities for schools to support students’ academic progress by targeting their holistic development. Participants were encouraged to develop action plans tailored to their specific situations, with a focus on examining the impact of their initiatives.

Prof. P C Agarwal, Principal of RIE Bhubaneswar, Prof. Anjum Sibia, in charge of Manodarpan at NCERT, and Prof. Ritanjali Dash, Head of the Department of Extension Education, provided guidance to the participants on their roles and responsibilities in achieving the goal of promoting mental well-being in schools.

The coordinators of the workshop, Prof. Gowramma I P and Dr. Elizabeth Gangmei, expressed optimism that the plans developed during the workshop would be implemented to create a healthy and supportive environment in schools. The initiative reflects a concerted effort to prioritize the mental well-being of students and create a positive and nurturing educational atmosphere.