NT teachers will be better equipped to support students to deal with bullying and to help them build respectful relationships, thanks to a dedicated new social and emotional learning curriculum.
Education Minister Selena Uibo last Wednesday launched the Northern Territory Social and Emotional Learning (NTSEL) Curriculum, a new toolkit available to teachers from tomorrow that will help tackle a range of issues that put students at risk of disengagement.
The NTSEL will complement the traditional school curriculum by resourcing teachers to support the social and emotional wellbeing of students.
This will enable them to more effectively empower students to deal with potentially traumatic issues such as bullying, as well as to build respectful relationships, positive coping skills and stress management skills.
The new NTSEL resources have been designed to be used alongside the Victorian Department of Educations Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships learning materials, a sequential series of lessons aimed at boosting social and emotional intelligence and literacy.
The curriculum will be available to Northern Territory middle years teachers from the beginning of Term 4, 2018, primary years teachers by the end of the term and senior years teachers from Term 1, 2019.
As noted by Education Minister Selena Uibo.
The Territory Labor Government is creating brighter futures for all our children by investing in a range of educational programs that help engage our kids, so they can learn, grow and achieve their full potential.
Research consistently shows that social and emotional learning supports wellbeing, increases connectedness, reduces stress for students and staff and increases prosocial behaviour, all of which will have positive effects in schools.
Gains can be seen in improved behaviour, higher levels of attendance and engagement in learning, which can bridge gaps in learning and improve academic outcomes.
Unlike the CLP, who slashed $135 million from the education budget, our government will always invest in education because it is not just the right thing to do, it is the smart thing to do for the Territorys future.