The Why and How of Bringing ‘Wellness’ Into Indian Schools

If we look back on our childhood memories, the ones that probably stand out most to us are the ones we made at school. School life is often full of contradictions, full of both enjoyment and struggles. But the balance may tip one way more than the other for some.

Why ‘Wellness’ in Schools is Important?

The term ‘Wellness’ becomes a little more complex when we talk about environments like schools. It includes the performance and the behavior of staff towards students along with aspects such as student engagement opportunities and holistic enrichment to help them become productive members of society.

If you’ve gone through schooling in India, you will likely know this phrase:
“Just give it your all during this exam and you can relax after this.” (Abhi padh le, iske baad mazze karna).

Ways through which both Parents and the Establishment can Bring Wellness in Schools

1. Create a Welcoming Environment

You may have the best intentions for the students, but you can’t address students’ problems unless you know what they exactly need. And it’s not enough to ask students to come to teachers and administration with their difficulties. You have to make it evident that they will be heard without judgement and that they will be actually provided help.

2. Engagement Beyond Academics

Of course, academics are important and essential to student development. However, equally important are the various ‘passion projects’ and other enriching activities that teach responsibility and independence to students. Don’t devalue the importance of co-curricular activities in well-rounded schooling by making them secondary to academics.

3. Access to Accessible Services and Support

Do students know the services they have access to? Often, student support services provided by schools are shrouded in so much mystery that even the staff may not know the proper procedure for making them available to students who do come asking.