Transforming classrooms through social and emotional learning
Synopsis
Education is a critical tool for reducing poverty, but many education systems are plagued with violence and disrupted classrooms, which has a significant impact on learning outcomes. This is a critical issue in many countries experiencing conflict and its effects.
To highlight this theme, Community Jameel, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and Dubai Cares hosted a special session at the Transforming Education Summit, during the 77th United Nations General Assembly in New York.
The session spotlighted the Ejada programme, an initiative in Jordan to strengthen the psychosocial resilience of teachers and of pupils, including Syrian refugees, by the Abdul Latif Jameel World Education Lab, Save the Children, and the Ministry of Education; and UNDP’s advocacy on transforming classrooms through a reduction in violence, including its 2021 report, which found that increased attention to the social and emotional learning of teachers and students can have a dramatic impact on tackling violence in classrooms.
Participants
Mohammad Smadi
Majedah Al-Jarrah
Dr Qais Momani
Claudia Urrea
Mohammed Salih
George Richards
Joanna Nassar
Organisers
Partners
With representatives from
About the event
Ejada
The Ejada programme addresses the social and emotional needs of teachers and pupils, to reduce violence in classrooms and improve learning outcomes. Launched in Jordan in 2019, Ejada is an initiative of the Abdul Latif Jameel World Education Lab (J-WEL), Save the Children and the Ministry of Education, with support from Community Jameel, Dubai Cares and Hikma. Collaborating with government officials, educators and school leaders to design and deliver learning opportunities, and with a commitment to testing and evaluating the initiative, Ejada aims to reach over 650,000 teachers, parents, administrators and pupils - including Syrian refugees and Jordanians - over five years.
To-date, Ejada has:
- Conducted the largest national teacher survey in Jordan’s history, with 5,000 respondents, to measure teacher occupational wellbeing
- Created eight teacher professional development courses, which the Ministry of Education in Jordan has accredited
- Trained and engaged over 200 teachers, administrators and Ministry of Education supervisors to deliver the courses
Ejada is now ready to launch the programme Jordan-wide. While continuing to test and refine its approach, Ejada seeks to develop an evidence-backed teacher professional development programme that incorporates social and emotional learning, to benefit not only learners in Jordan but education systems suffering severe disruption worldwide, with the ultimate goal of reducing inequality.
Ejada was selected by UNESCO as a Transforming Education Summit Solution to be highlighted on the Solutions Day of the summit on September 17, 2022.
Objective
This session will highlight the importance of a diversified partnership, as well as the importance of teachers’ social and emotional wellbeing, an often overlooked area of support. The session will:
- Highlight UNDP’s work in reducing school violence and transforming classrooms as a tool for reducing poverty
- Highlight the Ejada programme in Jordan as a solution for improving learning outcomes
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