Policies and resources for safe and supportive schools

Highlights

The Safe and Supportive Schools Project aims to improve the institutional capacity of the education system to foster a healthy school environment in which social and emotional learning, psychosocial support, well-being and mental health is entirely part of a whole-school approach.

A variety of factors have an impact on the social and emotional skills of children and their mental health: family environment, relationships with parents and friends, socio-economic situation, or the risk of violence to which they are exposed in different settings, including at school. As the suicide rate for those under the age of 15 is 2.3 times higher in Romania than the EU average, this project aims to improve mental health and well-being among students aged 10-15 by enhancing social and emotional support systems.

Implemented by the Ministry of Education, with the technical support from UNICEF and in cooperation with the European Commission, the project addresses the lack of preventive measures and cooperation between services in Romania, as well as the need for socio and emotional learning programs in schools, ensuring a secure and nurturing learning environment for all students.