- By Sarju Saran Tiwari
- Tue, 14 Oct 2025 03:29 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Education Wellness Framework: The world has become extremely competitive, with university cutoffs soaring to unprecedented levels. A student must excel in studies, but that is not enough. They must be good in extracurricular activities, sports or something where they have an edge over others. The foundation for excellence in life is laid in schools as students spend their formative years here. And in today's time, for students to excel in every sphere, overall wellness is imperative. The National Education Policy (NEP) has highlighted how the wellness framework must be included in the curriculum to ensure that the child's whole needs are being met instead of merely testing their rote learning skills.
This wellness ensures that the mind is healthy and the body is well nourished for a student to take on the challenges that life throws at them. After all, a healthy person will be able to fight better compared to somebody who doesn't have the mental strength or physical endurance. With students able to engage deeply, think clearly and build resilience that helps them beyond the classroom, the new age curriculum gives a lot of importance to wellness.
Why Mental Health And Nutrition Matter?
Educational research has repeatedly shown that mental health and nutrition are interconnected, enabling students to succeed. Today's students experience extreme stress due to social pressure, lack of emotional support, performance-related anxiety, lack of motivation, burnout, and even chronic anxiety or depression. Therefore, mental health support is essential for these students.
Ms. Ritu Jawa, Principal of Dharav High School in Gurugram, says that schools should provide mental health support to students by teaching them emotional control, self-awareness, and coping skills, which will help them deal with any challenges they may face.
These problems can be further aggravated if students have poor nutritional status. Already, the students are eating a lot of junk food. Combine that with missing meals, an unbalanced diet and ultimately getting deficiencies; all this can lead to lethargy, mood swings, poor concentration and long-term developmental issues, apart from physical manifestations of diseases. Nutrition fuels growth, but it also impacts cognitive functions that help students to focus, process information, and sustain energy throughout school.
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Wellness in Action:
There are multiple ways for schools to ensure that wellness goals are achieved. Embedding mental health and nutrition into everyday life as a practice and not just as a mere exercise is the key. Even as students are being taught about balanced meals, the school's canteen must reflect this. They must serve wholesome, balanced meals planned by nutritionists who will consider the caloric intake and the protein, vitamin and mineral content in it.
Furthermore, home-cooked healthy meals must be encouraged. Since students spend about 6 hours in school, their lunchbox should give them ample energy. A fruit in a small box is a great hands-on snack for kids to have while on their way back home. And then these habits must be followed through at home; thus, cooperation from parents is highly needed.
Schools must also undertake health and wellness workshops for students as well as teachers. Aware teachers can help students in a better way. They will be able to recognize signs of stress and distress and also intervene if they see nutritional problems in children. Discussions and reflection on emotional intelligence, self-regulation, stress management and mindfulness will go a long way. Fostering a culture where well-being is a priority is the key.
Schools must regularly undertake wellness activities for children. Yoga sessions and health- and wellness-themed assemblies can make a great impact. Salad-making activity for younger students will help them engage with food in an experiential way. Thus, in a fun way, healthy habits can be internalised.
The Road Ahead:
It's time we consider mental health and nutrition as an integral part of education, not an added convenience. She adds, "As an educator, I've been following this philosophy, and we've seen students have fewer behavioral problems, increased emotional resilience, improved concentration, improved creative expression, and improved attendance.
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We're teaching them how to think, not what to think, and this is having the right impact. After all, a nourished body and a calm mind can lead to excellent and happy students."