The focus needs to be on nurturing and strengthening students’ individual abilities, which will help them strengthen their mental and emotional well-being
The time spent in school is a crucial period for every individual, marked by dynamic growth and development. This period is also important as children and adolescents steer through the student life, encountering numerous experiences that shape them as individuals. This journey of school life also poses several challenges that are both unique and demanding, especially in the present-day context, where students face many challenges related to developing skills in academics, educational and career choices, and dealing with the stress and anxiety related to examinations and competitions.
They also need to stay updated about technological advances and adapt to the rapidly evolving world of work. These concerns affect the overall development of the students, impacting not only their academic performance but also their mental health and well-being. Along with the cognitive aspects, holistic development also focuses on the affective aspects, which include an individual’s social and emotional skills, attributes, positive social interactions, support perceived, adaptability and perspective-taking, among others, which serve as protective factors against stress. The purpose of any education system is not only to foster academic learning but also the all-round development of children.
As students go through their academic journeys, they also lay the foundations of a progressive society. Thus, the focus on this period and on ensuring the holistic development of the students is a concern of national importance. Consistent efforts are being made by the country to bring about awareness and support in this regard with a special focus on the younger population. An initial step in this direction was taken by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, who addressed these concerns through 'Pariksha Pe Charcha’ and ‘Mann Ki Baat’ talks with citizens and students. He inspired the students to become AatmaNirbharor self-reliant.
With a focus on socio-emotional concerns during interaction with students, the Hon’ble Prime Minister emphasised taking responsibility for oneself and overcoming difficult situations through individual efforts. In one such interaction, he motivated the young listeners, “We have to face temporary setbacks in life but always remember— the capacity to overcome them resides within us.” The National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020), emphasises the uniqueness of each student and the need to nurture their individual strengths and abilities towards making them self-reliant. With a holistic approach to education, the policy also focuses on the socio-emotional aspects along with academics.
The policy further outlines the aim of education as not only ‘cognitive development, but also building character and creating holistic and well-rounded individuals equipped with the key 21st-century skills’. It lays emphasis on building the skills of the students in the areas of social, ethical, and emotional capacities and dispositions including personal competencies. This will prepare students to deal with all life situations. In attempts towards supporting students to become self-directed and resilient in their approach, under the ‘AatmaNirbhar Bharat Abhiyan’ the Ministry of Education launched ‘Manodarpan’ on 21st July 2020 (https://manodarpan.education.gov.in). The prime objective of the initiative is to provide psychosocial support to students, teachers and families for mental health and emotional well-being. Students’ holistic development and well-being are addressed through National Toll-free Helpline (844-844-0632) and ‘Sahyog’ live sessions telecast on PM e-Vidya channels and ‘NCERT Official’ YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/@NCERTOFFICIAL/streams).
As students progress from the foundational to secondary stages of schooling, they need a secure, warm, caring, and nurturing environment in order to develop and strengthen their competencies and skills. Hence, the role of parents and teachers is crucial in making students ‘AatmaNirbhar’ so that they can deal with various challenges in life.
However, external support, although crucial, is not sufficient to overcome difficult life situations. It is also important to empower students so that they are able to take charge of their own learning, set goals, make decisions and take responsibility for their own educational journey. Resourcefulness is crucial for students to utilise a variety of educational materials and platforms for independent learning. Self-reliance encourages students to be innovative in their approach to learning. It promotes critical thinking, problem-solving, and the ability to adapt to new challenges.
Our teachers need to create opportunities for students to practise self-discipline, as it supports students in making conscious choices that are aligned with their set goals. Students also need to realise that self-discipline encompasses perseverance, persistence, focus, a sense of responsibility, and the ability to manage time optimally. It helps in achieving goals despite challenges or distractions. But how does one build self-discipline? Although it seems like a daunting task, small steps in the right direction such as setting clear goals, identifying and prioritising tasks, distancing one from distractions, following a routine of proper sleep, nutrition and exercise and maintaining an organised learning space, can lead us to our final goal. Practicing self-discipline helps in gaining confidence in one’s abilities and is a source of reinforcement to achieve the goals.
Apart self-discipline, what else do children need to practise?: It is the understanding of one’s own strengths, areas of development, emotions, and thoughts. Taking care of oneself, enhancing skills, adopting a growth mindset, and maintaining social relationships and family interactions are some of the ways of building resilience. All children need to understand that resilience helps in adapting to challenging situations in life by showing behavioural and emotional flexibility. Especially in the context of examinations where students come across many challenges, resilience acts as a critical attribute that impacts their ability to overcome academic struggles and setbacks. It helps them maintain a positive outlook.
Schools are spaces where students spend the majority of their formative years and provide opportunities to develop a wide range of skills. In addition to academics, schooling also involves appropriate nurturing of socio-affective development, i.e., self-reliance, self-discipline, taking initiative, independence of thought, understanding relationships with people and the environment, responsible action, etc. To foster academic learning and socio-emotional development, schools need to understand their students and ensure that all of them are treated fairly, valued, and exposed to a wide range of personal and social learning experiences. Teachers can also help in building peer support amongst students by facilitating open communication and cultivating empathy. Positive relationships with peers contribute to a student's sense of belonging and emotional well-being. While school plays an important role, a supportive and nurturing family environment is also crucial for building self-reliance and resilience among students.
Examinations are often seen as a major cause of concern among students at all stages of education across the country, sometimes evoking extreme anxiety and stress related to the fear of evaluation and results. Various measures have been taken by the government towards tackling this pertinent concern. In 'Pariksha Pe Charcha’, the Hon’ble Prime Minister has often discussed creating a stress-free environment for youngsters facing the exam years. The much-acclaimed book Exam Warriors (2018) tackles examinations in terms of student mental health in our country’s context. In continuing the efforts towards reducing the fear of evaluation among students, the NEP, 2020 has introduced a holistic perspective in assessment with the Holistic Progress Card, a 360-degree, multidimensional report that reflects in great detail the progress as well as the uniqueness of each learner in the cognitive, affective, and psychomotor domains, including aspects of self-evaluation.
What is the reason behind this stress?: While it is difficult to identify any one reason behind the stress experienced by students, it is important to recognise that examinations bring with them a sense of being evaluated. However, one must try to not take them as the criteria that define our capabilities. Evaluations and assessments are integral components of life that provide valuable opportunities for growth, self-reflection, and improvements in various dimensions of life.
We often focus on external criteria of assessment and evaluation, using them as our benchmark for progress. Self-reflection, often overlooked in this context, helps us identify our personal progress and hindrances more effectively. Going beyond the traditional academic evaluations, through thoughtful introspection, one can discover valuable insights about self. The more one knows about oneself, the lesser dependence one has on the external criteria of evaluation. By recognising the reciprocal relationship between self-reflection and personal growth, we not only enhance our cognitive capacities but also cultivate emotional intelligence.
(The writer is Director NCERT; views are personal)
