Group advocates mental wellness of children, educators

Following the International Day of Education globally celebrated, a non-governmental organization, Mother’s Love Initiative, has called for a focus on the physical and mental health of children and educators within the educational system.

This, it said, is imperative to relieve them of the stress related events associated with the COVID-19 pandemic which impacted on their learning trajectory.

The group stated this at an occasion to mark the International Day of Education with the theme, “Beyond Academic Achievement: Social and Emotional Learning in Enhancing the Quality of School Life”.

According to the NGO, the theme speaks to the growing concerns about reduced physical and social interactions permeating the new generation school system in Nigeria.

Speaking on the relevance of the theme, spokesman for A Mother’s Love Initiative, Mr. Uchechukwu Michael Ginika explained that A Mother’s Love Initiative’s theme for this day speaks to the overall quality of life of the Nigerian Child within the educational system in Nigeria.

He said, “These issues can be discussed under five different levels, namely; At the individual (child) level, social and emotional learning helps the individual adjust to the demands or pressures that arise from developmental changes and societal expectations.

“At the home level, parents have to be aware of the need to support the healthy educational development of their children by creating a healthy home climate for learning to take place in the home.

“At the school level, educators and school managers must understand the importance of unstructured play and extracurricular activities in ensuring a child grows in the cognitive, social and emotional domains of development.

“At the community level, religious and community stakeholders must champion the culture of collectivism as a form of social support to education in the semi-formal and informal sectors of the economy.

“And At the government level, we advocate that government agencies and ministries at the federal, state and local level review and enforce policies that will curb the excesses of private and public.”

He explained that the proposed campaign is expected to increase the awareness of the mass public towards the essence of social and emotional development towards producing a functional adult in the society.