Why Supporting Teacher Well-being is Critical to Developing Learners’ Social-emotional Skills (and how to do so effectively)

Colombia’s flexible education models reintegrate out-of-school children and youth
through school-based, accelerated curriculum which includes core subjects and social-emotional learning (SEL). Recognising that SEL depends on motivated, emotionally supported teachers, efforts to support teacher wellbeing are integrated into the programme through training, mentoring, and psychosocial support. This approach—supported by national frameworks and partnerships with NGOs—helps create more inclusive classrooms and strengthens student-teacher relationships, especially in contexts affected by conflict or displacement. Colombia’s experience shows that investing in teacher wellbeing is a critical strategy for improving students’ social-emotional development, engagement, and learning.