Social and Emotional Learning

Social and emotional learning (SEL) is a catchall term for a series of school-based programmes designed to teach children a range of personal and social life skills, including relationship building, social skills, empathy, conflict resolution, problem-solving, emotional awareness, and self-management. It should be noted that some programmes also include drug prevention, suicide awareness, and anti-bullying initiatives. The term is used interchangeably with ‘social and emotional well-being, emotional literacy, social and emotional intelligence, character education, mental health and well-being, and emotional intelligence’. Indeed, the fluid range of terms associated with SEL programmes is both an indicator of the need for education to speak of SEL and a reflection of how closely associated the concept is with public and mass media discourses. It is also a cause ...