In partnership with the Global Center for the Development of the Whole Child (GC-DWC), Whole Child India is strategically partnering with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Telangana to integrate Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) into the core of teacher education, aligning directly with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. As the future of education, Bachelor of Education students are essential actors in creating emotionally supportive and student-centered learning environments. The GC-DWC’s foundational success began by developing and implementing the two-credit course, “Whole School Approach to Social and Emotional Learning,” which is currently offered to B.Ed. students across Osmania University and its 78 affiliated colleges, as well as Palamuru University and its 30 colleges. Linked to the course are ongoing program learnings that inform improvements with each new year of implementation.

Building on this initial achievement, the GC-DWC and Whole Child India are increasing our reach across Telangana’s higher education system. Expansion includes moving beyond Telangana to other states and creating M.Ed. courses and in-service training SEL for leadership and professional development. The overall goal of this sustained effort is to establish a network of HEIs with robust capacity for SEL teacher training, providing future educators at all levels—from pre-primary to higher secondary—with essential skills to drive lasting, system-wide change.