In our educational settings, the poor performances of students are avowedly attributed to language barriers, gross negligence of students, and their difficult disciplinary aspects. But we have never realized that the tragedies are the outcomes of poor relationship among teachers, students and parents.

All of us, be it educators, teachers or parents, have always prioritized the higher IQ and judged our kids on the basis of their academic progress reports. It is globally felt that students will not be able to master the skills demanded by the global business environment by simply hitting the books in classrooms and homes and scoring higher IQ.

Keep in mind the solution to the problems is not intellectual but emotional and social. We should know the fact that our children are emotionally and socially unprepared because of poor relationship.

I believe that fostering social and emotional learning (SEL) can be one of the best alternatives. Schools, families, communities and all educational institutions can help children identify and regulate the everyday emotions.

Classrooms and other settings must be child-friendly and interactive and teaching-learning activities student-based that foster children’s ability to master Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Social Intelligence (SI).

The framework of SEL identifies five core competencies that are expected excel in classrooms, schools, families and communities. These include self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision-making, relationship skill and social awareness.

Not only students but also teachers and parents can avail of the understanding, skills and strategies that promote a positive sense of self, respectful relationship, ability to handle their distressing emotions effectively and navigate them in skilled relationships by making responsible decisions.

This framework of SEL is even more important in the country like ours where multicultural and multilingual entities exist with students from diverse social, cultural and economic backgrounds.

Guidance and support from caregivers are imperative to boost kids’ academic, social and emotional achievements. Everybody, therefore, needs to be on board this framework to deliver the best possible education that matches with global needs.