“A New Education Scenario: Wellbeing of Teachers, Students, & Parents”- An ASEF ClassNet School Collaboration on Mental Health and Wellbeing
Written by ASEFEdu
The rampant nature of the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a novel and ever-evolving worldwide education scenario. Approximately 1.2 billion students and youth worldwide have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic[1]. To ensure the delivery and continuity of education, teachers as well as educational institutions are going through stressful days; thus, raising concerns on the mental health and well-being of all involved.[2]
While various stakeholders are trying to adapt to the new virtual teaching and learning environment, one also must take note of the ranging personal, professional, and educational challenges that has spawned throughout this global health crisis.
Undoubtedly, the most affected groups are teachers and students. Many students are currently not only struggling to cope with the new educational requirements but also suffering a great deal due to the sudden lack of social engagement, which hinders the development of critical soft skills. The abrupt shift from the carefully designed, conducive teaching and learning environment to their homes added an element of unpredictability to the conduciveness of the learning environments for each student as well as each teacher. Besides, this unpredictability and new learning setting at home also add an extra burden on parents; especially, on those with full-time jobs.
In times like these, students and parents are likely to reach out to their teachers for support and guidance. As such, it is crucial that various education platforms, organisations, and stakeholders come together to ease the burden on teachers. Hence, the nature of the educational scenario due to this pandemic has led us to ask the following questions: How can one ensure wellbeing and mental health through this challenging time? What is the support system in place to support one another? Are we fully equipped with the necessary skills to remain supportive and resilient, whilst motivating the collective circles of educators, stakeholders and students?
As an inter-governmental organisation committed to bringing about positive change and encouraging various civil society stakeholders to take initiatives in driving socio-economic, cultural, and political development in the ASEM region, ASEF has been working relentlessly on tackling this issue since March 2020. ASEF’s Education Department has launched and promoted various activities to support the education community in the ASEM region.
ASEF recognises that secondary-education level is an important part of a young person’s life where a student develops vital unteachable attitudes and interpersonal skills such as grit, resilience and an optimistic outlook towards life. Therefore, considering the importance of supporting key stakeholders at the secondary-education level an ASEF ClassNet School Collaboration project, “A New Education Scenario: Wellbeing of Teachers, Students, & Parents” has been designed to create an engaging platform for peer-to-peer learning & support in the ASEM region.This project is mainly addressed to teachers and students, at some levels to parents, and is focused on their wellbeing in the current unpredictable and challenging circumstances. The objective is to establish a peer-to-peer learning and support network through various means of communication, platforms, and concrete activities.
Project Timeline:
July 2020: Conceptualisation & Planning
August 2020: Coordinator Selection
September 2020: Open Call for Application & Participants Selection
October — December 2020: Implementation
January 2021: Evaluation, Reporting & Follow up for Continuation
About the Coordinators:
ASEF is pleased that three passionate educators, Ms Anjali AGGARWAL & Ms Geeta RAJAN (India) and Ms Svea KUČINIĆ (Croatia), are on board to implement the School Collaboration.
Anjali is the Founder and Principal of St. Mark’s School, Meera Bagh, which has about 4000 students and 200 staff members. She received the “Lifetime Achievement Award” in 2009 by the Women International Network and is also the recipient of the “Radha Krishnan Memorial Award”, the “P.T.A NATIONAL AWARD” by the Parent Teacher Association of India, and the “Progressive Principal of the Year Award” for the year 2017. With over 30 years of experience as an educator, Anjali has been a part of many changes that have occurred in the field of education. She is a progressive educationist who believes in the right amalgamation of technology and text books in a classroom. Anjali is an ASEF ClassNet alumna and hosted the 9th ASEFClassNet Conference in 2010.
Geeta is currently working as the Head of International Affairs at the St. Mark’s Sr Sec. Public School in Meera Bagh, New Delhi, India. An ardent believer of going beyond the four walls of a classroom, Geeta, initiated the use of ICT (Information & Communication Technology) in her classrooms even when it was just an idea in many parts of the world. She encouraged her students to learn beyond classrooms, which empowered them to engage in a plethora of collaborative projects with students from all parts of the world. Together with their peers, her students have written books, designed magazines, and websites. They have also won multiple awards. With an experience that spans for more than a decade, Geeta believes that cross-country education is crucial to prepare her students with mindsets needed for a global world. Geeta is an ASEFClassNet alumnas.
Svea holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Rehabilitation from the University of Zagreb and is currently employed as a Disability Counsellor in the Administrative School Zagreb, where she focuses on advocating for and working directly with disabled students in order to ensure equal-opportunity education for all. She previously worked as a Disability Counsellor in two primary schools, as well as a Special Education Teacher and a Teaching Assistant. Furthermore, she created, planned, and conducted experience-based workshops on the inclusion of people with disabilities for the “Wheelday” Erasmus+ youth exchange in Vienna. She is also active in the Croatian activist scene in the fields of LGBTQ and women’s rights. Svea is an ASEFEdu alumnus.
Are you an educator at the secondary education level and passionate about mental health and wellbeing of you, your students, and parents of your students? Then Join us!
Check out the Open Call information on our website to learn more about the School Collaboration. We have currently closed the Open Call. The applicants will be contacted soon regarding the outcome of their application.