Dubai: Inspiring schools and families to look beyond examination results, a new initiative, which will focus on student happiness and well-being, was launched by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).
The ‘School of Hearts’ initiative will reach out to students aged between 10 and 14.
As part of the initiative, students will be invited to take part in a survey, which will ask questions relating to their safety, health and interactions at school.
Dubai’s private schools will be invited to take part in the ‘School of Hearts’ initiative starting on February 7.
Inspiring schools and families to look beyond examination results, the ‘School of Hearts’ initiative will focus on three key areas - school environment, personal wellness and peer-support.
“Teachers, school principals and families should be supported in their effort to promote both academic performance and healthy social and emotional development of students. Students who share good relations with their teachers and family are likely to perform better while enjoying a sense of belonging at school,” said Hind Al Mualla, Chief of Creativity, Happiness and Innovation.
The initiative will help understand whether students in Dubai feel engaged, both socially and academically. Schools will also be encouraged to host listening circles — which will bring together parents, students, teachers and school leaders to share ideas.
“Being happy at school is an important aspect of student well-being. Every student should have an opportunity to nurture a positive relationship with an admiring adult which helps in building a supportive environment at school,” she added.
A 2015 publication by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) confirmed academic success is invariably linked with stress and, as a result, there is less enjoyment of learning.
The Pisa on 50 publication read, “Academic achievement that comes at the expense of students’ well-being is not a full accomplishment”.
The ‘School of Hearts’ initiative will work towards helping schools to build a balance between academic achievement and development of character and well-being.
Research studies have shown positive school practices have a significant overall effect in terms of greater inspiration among students and staff. Findings showed that there was a great appreciation for learning from each other and connecting with others around shared values.
WestEd, a non-profit agency based in San Francisco, has used similar studies to understand the link between well-being and academic performance for over 10 years.
