Happy Schools: Capacity Building for Learner Well-being in the Asia-Pacific; findings from the 2018-2020 pilots in Japan, Lao PDR, and Thailand

Programme Reports & Evaluations
Paris
UNESCO
2021
12 p.

This report highlights findings from the Happy Schools Project: Capacity Building for Learner Well-being in the Asia-Pacific (Phase II) pilots in Japan, Lao PDR and Thailand from 2018-2020. The aim of the pilots was to promote happiness in schools through enhanced learner well-being, social emotional learning and holistic development which aligns well with the SDG 4.1 target to ensure quality education and the SDG 4.7 target to ensure necessary skills to promote sustainable development. This report discusses the project activities in the three participating countries which included i) national consultation meetings ii) the development of a Happy Schools Guidebook (draft version), iii) capacity development workshops for teachers and school leaders, iv) regional seminar, and v) final national review meetings. The key findings from the pilot phases include the importance of teachers’ positive attitudes, school leadership, embracing a whole-school approach, rethinking pedagogical materials, and embracing SDG 4.7 (Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship). The report also highlights some challenges, such as understanding and localizing the concepts of well-being and shifting teachers’ mindsets in the project implementation. Education stakeholders from policy to school levels are encouraged to consider utilizing key takeaways in this consolidated report as a regional case study to further apply in their respective country contexts.

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