Emotional intelligence and mindfulness: parents and students' demands for the return to school

Emotional well-being, increased access to mental health services and guidance against pressure, self-imposed standards, academic expectations and uncertainty of the future. This is what students and families are asking for when they return to the classroom. After the climate emergency initiatives launched by many institutions in Italy and Europe, students are clamouring for another change. In the school environment, young people across Europe report being regularly stressed due to the pressure and now there is an urgent need for a quick turnaround.

As the GoStudent Future Education Report 2024 shows, supporting mental health is among the top five subject areas that should be explored in schools. Seventy per cent of parents in Italy agree that a student's emotional well-being is closely linked to his or her academic performance, and 78 per cent therefore support the introduction of mindfulness activities in schools.

For 80 per cent of parents in Italy, schools should put more emphasis on teaching emotional intelligence: problem solving, curiosity to learn, creativity, emotion and time management, intercultural approaches, consolidation of strengths, collaboration and flexibility are considered more important than digital literacy, especially when it comes to the Z and Alpha generations, who already have a high level of competence in this regard.

Also supporting families are teachers. For 9 out of 10 teachers across Europe, "increased access to mental health services and guidelines" would make students feel better prepared for the future. And for 7 out of 10 teachers, "young people first need to develop good self-esteem, as well as an awareness of their own inclinations, in order to be able to choose their own path" in life. For the teachers, young people must 'be able to cope and solve problems and generally manage emotions' and must also 'develop confidence in themselves and their abilities'.

Although more than 1 in 2 parents (56%) believe they play a key role in emotionally supporting their children in cases of stress and anxiety, they are now also asking schools for support. Eager to support students with the skills they need to feel ready for the future, GoStudent, with the start of the new school year, has made 50 scholarships available across Europe. Selected applicants will receive individual tutoring tailored to their specific needs and goals, enabling them to feel empowered to realise the career of their dreams.
Felix Ohswald, CEO and co-founder of GoStudent comments: "I firmly believe that education is the most valuable tool in a person's arsenal. Today's students are passionate, motivated and care deeply about the world around them. Through our scholarship programme, we want to support them in achieving their ambitions. With the right guidance, every child has the potential to turn their dreams into reality".