Why Emotional Wellbeing of a Child Should Be Part of Every School Curriculum: A Nigerian Case Study

Emotional wellbeing refers to the ability of a person to understand, manage, and express emotions in healthy ways. For children, it means being able to feel safe, loved, and confident while learning to cope with challenges, frustrations, and changes in their lives. It is not simply about avoiding sadness or anxiety but about building resilience, empathy, and emotional intelligence that will support them throughout life. In Nigeria, where millions of children face socioeconomic pressures, insecurity, and limited access to healthcare, emotional wellbeing becomes even more critical.

The state of a child’s emotional wellbeing directly shapes their academic performance, social relationships, and long-term development. A child who feels emotionally secure is more likely to pay attention in class, engage positively with peers, and express creativity. On the other hand, children struggling with emotional distress — whether from family issues, bullying, poverty, or trauma — often display poor concentration, behavioral problems, and low academic achievement.

In extreme cases, unresolved emotional struggles can lead to depression, aggression, or withdrawal. For instance, in many Nigerian schools, teachers report students who frequently skip classes, get into fights, or lose interest in learning altogether. Often, the root cause is not laziness but unaddressed emotional pain, whether from broken homes, financial struggles, or even the trauma of displacement due to insecurity in their communities.

Traditionally, the responsibility for nurturing a child’s emotional wellbeing has been placed almost entirely on parents. While families play a vital role, the reality in Nigeria shows that schools cannot afford to remain on the sidelines. Children spend a significant portion of their daily lives in school, where teachers and peers influence them as much as parents do. If schools ignore the emotional needs of learners, they miss a critical opportunity to shape not only academic success but holistic development.

Moreover, many Nigerian households are overwhelmed with financial and social challenges. Parents working multiple jobs, single mothers struggling to provide, or families displaced by insecurity often have limited time and resources to address their children’s emotional needs fully. Schools therefore must become safe havens where children are not only taught mathematics and science but also guided on how to handle stress, build self-esteem, and develop healthy relationships.

Across the country, examples abound of how neglecting emotional wellbeing has hurt children. In some urban schools, students face intense pressure to meet high academic expectations without receiving guidance on coping with stress. Reports of teenage suicides and substance abuse highlight the silent crisis growing in schools. In rural communities, children who have witnessed violence or displacement often sit in classrooms unable to concentrate, yet their emotional trauma goes unnoticed because the system prioritizes only academic results.

A real case in Lagos involved a secondary school boy who consistently displayed aggression and defiance in class. Teachers labeled him as “stubborn,” but later it was discovered that he had lost both parents and was being raised in an unstable environment. What he needed was not punishment but emotional support. Sadly, such cases are far too common, showing the urgent need to integrate emotional wellbeing into school life.

The Federal Ministry of Education should take the lead by officially incorporating emotional wellbeing into the national curriculum. This can be done by introducing structured lessons on emotional intelligence, resilience, and mental health awareness alongside academic subjects. Teacher training colleges should also integrate child psychology and emotional support training into their programs, ensuring that educators are equipped to identify and respond to emotional distress in students.

Additionally, the Ministry must collaborate with health institutions, NGOs, and counselors to design programs that schools can adopt. Just as physical health is supported through routine medical checks, emotional wellbeing should be safeguarded through regular counseling and safe spaces within schools.

Schools, both public and private, should not wait for government directives alone but should begin creating environments where emotional wellbeing is prioritized. This could mean having trained school counselors available, providing peer support clubs, and organizing workshops that encourage open conversations about stress, peer pressure, and self-confidence. Teachers should also be encouraged to approach discipline with empathy, recognizing that misbehavior often signals emotional distress rather than just disobedience.

Furthermore, schools should involve parents by hosting seminars on emotional wellbeing, teaching families how to reinforce healthy emotional practices at home. This partnership between parents, teachers, and the school community would create a stronger safety net for children.

Emotional wellbeing is not a luxury but a necessity for every child, especially in Nigeria where many face daily struggles that affect their mental and emotional stability. A curriculum that ignores emotional development fails to prepare children for real life. By integrating emotional wellbeing into the school system, Nigeria can raise a generation of resilient, emotionally intelligent, and socially responsible citizens.

The task cannot be left for parents alone, nor can schools focus solely on academics. The Ministry of Education, schools, and families must all play their part. For every child sitting in a Nigerian classroom today, emotional wellbeing could be the difference between a broken future and a fulfilled one.

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