Tripura and Uttarakhand recognised for integrating wellbeing into school education
The National Council of Educational Research and Training has honoured both states for their mental health initiatives in public schools.
The governments of Tripura and Uttarakhand have received national recognition from the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) for integrating children's mental health and wellbeing into public education, according to ANI.
The recognition follows India's observation of World Mental Health Day earlier this month. The two states have implemented structured, government-led initiatives within their existing school systems.
In Tripura, the Saharsh programme reaches four lakh children, while the Anandam Pathyacharya programme in Uttarakhand reaches five lakh children. Together, these initiatives reach approximately nine lakh children by embedding wellbeing classes into the regular school timetable.
Shri Partha Pratim Acharya, Officer on Special Duty at the State Council of Educational Research and Training, Tripura, said that through Saharsh, the state is making space for children to build skills like understanding emotions and navigating challenges as part of their everyday school experience.
Dr. B. P.
Mandoli, State Nodal Officer, Samagra Shiksha, Government of Uttarakhand, said the Anandam programme gives children dedicated time to pause and express themselves without the pressure of exams. He noted that the programme has brought this approach into government schools under the guidance of Smt. Bandana Garbyal, Director of Academic Research and Training, Uttarakhand.
Tripura's Saharsh programme was evaluated through a large-scale randomised controlled trial conducted with researchers from Harvard and the University of Michigan. The study found improvements in learning outcomes and reductions in student anxiety.