eTwinning Annual Theme 2024: Well-being at school

While analysing the Annual Theme of Innovation and Education in 2023, eTwinning already touched upon the theme of well-being. With the growing recognition of the crucial impact of well-being on students' learning outcomes and overall life satisfaction, eTwinning goes a step further. The 2024 Annual Theme aims to provide educators with the opportunity to explore and integrate a whole-school approach to well-being and mental health within pre-primary, primary, secondary education and IVET (initial vocational education and training).

Education is not just about teaching knowledge and skills to learners, it is also about providing them with safe and nurturing environments where they can learn and grow as individuals. Schools are not only places of learning, they also serve as important social and emotional development spaces for young people. Children and young people spend most of their time at school, and therefore, schools play a critical role in promoting and safeguarding their well-being. Learners who feel safe, supported and connected in their school environment are more likely to thrive academically and personally. They are more engaged in their learning, develop healthy relationships with their peers and teachers and are better prepared to navigate the challenges and opportunities of life beyond school.

It is also necessary to recognise that the well-being of teachers is essential to creating healthy, safe and nurturing learning environments. 

To ensure that education systems are truly equitable and inclusive, eTwinning will promote the belief that everyone has the chance to fulfil their potential, irrespective of personal circumstances (gender, gender identity, nationality, religion, ability) and family, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds to all teachers and students.

It is important for all school members to feel protected from any prejudice, violence, harassment and bullying and that they feel they can thrive. Schools are expected to be a safe environment where everyone – students, teachers, parents and educators – feels welcome, valued and can freely be themselves without any discrimination.

For this reason, eTwinning will also focus on bullying, which is a very pervasive issue that often targets individuals based on their gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, religion or ability. This can contribute to a hostile environment for marginalised groups. Therefore, specific emphasis will be put on offering teacher training on how to deal with bullying and nurture empathy in students.

To get acquainted with the Annual Theme of 2024, well-being, and prepare yourselves for the exciting year ahead, we recommend that you read the following:

• Pathways to School Success – European Commission
• LifeComp: The European framework for the personal, social and learning to learn key competence
• Promoting supportive learning environments and supporting well-being at school – Publications Office of the EU (europa.eu)
• Social and emotional learning and academic achievement in schools – Publications Office of the EU (europa.eu)
• What can schools do about bullying? – Publications Office of the EU (europa.eu)
• What motivates children who bully, and can they change? – Publications Office of the EU (europa.eu)
• Resilience in schools – Publications Office of the EU (europa.eu)