Rajasthan has set up ‘Khushishala’ in 1,500 government schools to improve student health and wellness.
For many years, school discussions have focused on marks, attendance and academic results. Rajasthan is now trying to add another measure to the list: how children feel in the classroom.The government has launched ‘Khushishala’, a mental health and wellness program for students of classes 1 to 5 in about 1,500 government schools. Officials say Rajasthan is the first state in the country to implement such a formal program in primary schools.Run by the Rajasthan State Council of Educational Research and Training (RSCERT), the project uses classroom activities to help children develop mental toughness, social skills and life skills. But the program is not just for students.
Teachers in the middle
Under Khushishala, teachers undergo a three-day course followed by a 21-day course on emotional intelligence, stress management, relationship building and well-being. Teacher handbooks and hand-held resources have also been developed to support classroom activities.Director of RSCERT Shweta Fagediya said, “Khushishala has made Rajasthan the first state in India to implement a mental health and wellness program in primary education. Its goal is to promote children’s mental stability and social skills while equipping teachers to better understand and support the mental needs of students.”
The pilot made an appearance
The program follows the pilot conducted in Sirohi and Banswara districts in 2024.According to Fagediya, the pilot affected 120 teachers and recorded a 53 percent change in the students’ social and emotional skills. Among girls, the change has reached 69 percent.“These findings also show strong teacher-student relationships and emotional growth among children,” he said, adding that the program also helped reduce academic stress.Following the pilot, RSCERT and Kshamtalaya Foundation trained teachers across the state. The project is now being expanded, with plans to train 11,305 teachers at the panchayat level and expand to 649 PM SHRI schools.If the rollout goes ahead as planned, Rajasthan will have more than 12,000 schools with at least one teacher trained to conduct Khushishala events. (with organizational inputs)
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