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Tag: #EducationalReforms

  • Emotional and Ethical Education Key to Holistic Child Development: Rajesh Sharma

    Emotional and Ethical Education Key to Holistic Child Development: Rajesh Sharma

    Teachers urged to effectively implement SEE Learning in classrooms across Himachal Pradesh

    Shimla: Emphasising the growing need for emotional resilience and ethical values among students, Samagra Shiksha Director Rajesh Sharma said that academic excellence alone is not sufficient in today’s competitive world and that schools must focus on nurturing emotionally strong and socially responsible individuals.

    He was addressing the valedictory session of a three-day capacity-building workshop for the State Resource Group (SRG) under the Social, Emotional and Ethical Learning (SEE Learning) programme, organised by Samagra Shiksha at the Himachal Pradesh Agriculture Co-operative Staff Training Institute, Sangti (Summer Hill), Shimla.

    Sharma said Himachal Pradesh has consistently performed among the leading states in educational indicators, including the PARAKH survey and the Performance Grading Index (PGI), owing to the collective efforts of teachers, policymakers and the government. However, he stressed that students today are increasingly facing academic pressure, stress and other mental health challenges, making emotional and ethical learning an essential component of education.

    “Education is not merely about securing good marks in examinations. It is equally important to ensure the holistic and balanced development of every child,” Sharma said, adding that qualities such as empathy, responsibility, self-awareness and the ability to cope with adversity are crucial for students’ long-term success and well-being.

    He called upon teachers to translate the knowledge and experiences gained during the workshop into classroom practices and integrate life values alongside subject teaching.

    Highlighting recent educational reforms, Sharma said the state government has introduced several initiatives to improve the quality of education in government schools, including English-medium instruction, greater autonomy for schools in uniform selection and the adoption of modern teaching methodologies. These measures, he said, are already yielding positive outcomes in learning standards.

    The director also noted that Samagra Shiksha has facilitated exposure visits for teachers to countries such as Singapore to familiarise them with globally recognised educational practices. He pointed out that social, emotional and ethical development is considered an integral part of education in advanced nations and said Himachal Pradesh is moving steadily in the same direction.

    Expressing confidence in the future of the programme, Sharma said SEE Learning would emerge as a significant and sustainable component of school education and contribute positively to students’ lives.

    SEE Learning State Coordinator Varsha Sood thanked the chief guest for attending the closing ceremony and said the workshop provided participants with practical activities, exercises and interactive sessions aimed at strengthening their understanding of the programme’s core concepts.

    Officials of Samagra Shiksha, members of the State Resource Group and representatives of Piramal Foundation were also present on the occasion.

  • 3-Day SEE Learning State SRG Workshop Begins in Shimla

    3-Day SEE Learning State SRG Workshop Begins in Shimla

    Programme focuses on developing compassion, emotional resilience and ethical decision-making among school students

    Shimla, June 8:

    A three-day Capacity Building Workshop of the State Resource Group (SRG) under the SEE Learning (Social, Emotional and Ethical Learning) programme commenced on Monday at the Himachal Pradesh Agriculture Co-operative Staff Training Institute, Sangti (Summer Hill), Shimla.

    Organized under Samagra Shiksha, the residential workshop will continue till June 10 and aims to strengthen the implementation of the SEE Learning programme in Himachal Pradesh. Currently, the initiative is being implemented in 100 schools across Kangra and Hamirpur districts to promote emotional well-being, social responsibility and ethical values among students.

    The workshop is being attended by State Resource Group members, including school teachers, officials from District Institutes of Education and Training (DIETs), Samagra Shiksha coordinators and representatives of Piramal Foundation.

    Among those present were SEE Learning State Coordinator Varsha Sood, coordinators Dr. Manjula Sharma, Pratibha Bali, Sonia Sharma and Anjana Bhardwaj, along with Piramal Foundation Senior Programme Director Zeeshan Hasan, Programme Manager Rajendra Thakur, Heena Kalra, Waseem Raja Bhatt and Rais Ahmad Sofi.

    Speaking on the occasion, SEE Learning State Coordinator Varsha Sood said that the workshop, being conducted under the guidance of Samagra Shiksha Director Rajesh Sharma, is an important step towards strengthening the programme’s implementation across the state. She said participants would discuss trainer development, school-level activities, effective implementation strategies and the preparation of a future action plan.

    She emphasized that the programme aims to nurture emotional resilience, social responsibility and ethical leadership among students, helping them become responsible and compassionate citizens.

    Dr. Manjula Sharma highlighted the importance of teachers embracing the principles of SEE Learning themselves before effectively guiding students. She said the programme equips educators with the skills needed to support children facing stress, anxiety, fear and emotional challenges in a sensitive and constructive manner.

    Addressing the workshop, Piramal Foundation Senior Programme Director Zeeshan Hasan said SEE Learning is designed not only to improve academic outcomes but also to cultivate resilience, compassion and ethical discernment among children. He noted that increasing mental health challenges and growing social and academic pressures make it essential for students to develop the ability to make informed decisions and cope with difficult situations.

    Hasan explained that SEE Learning combines India’s contemplative traditions with modern scientific understanding. The programme includes key components such as attention and awareness, compassion, trauma and resilience-informed care, systems thinking and ethical decision-making.

    He said compassion and empathy are learnable skills that can be developed through practice and education. The ultimate objective of SEE Learning is to create school environments that are empathetic, inclusive and rooted in strong ethical values.

    During the workshop, SEE Learning State Programme Manager Rajendra Thakur also delivered a detailed presentation on the programme and its future roadmap in the state.