School Wellness Capacity Building took centre stage at VSIS, where educators gained dynamic tools for holistic student well-

Jaipur, Nov.12,2025:VSIS, Jaipur, in collaboration with CBSE, successfully organised a two-day School Wellness Capacity Building workshop on 7 and 8 November 2025. The primary aim was to promote holistic education by equipping teachers with tools to foster the physical, emotional and mental well-being of students-

The sessions were led by distinguished CBSE Resource Persons: Ms. Sunayna Nagpal (Principal, Alpha International Academy) and Ms. Karuna Nagpal (Principal, Aurobindo International School). The event commenced with a warm welcome by the school’s Principal, Ms. Renuka Joshi, who emphasised integrating wellness education into daily school practices to nurture responsible and emotionally balanced learners.

Over the two days, participants engaged in a range of interactive sessions, engaging activities, brainstorming exercises and a thought-provoking panel discussion. The discussions revolved around understanding adolescent health concerns, life skill education, gender sensitivity and creating a safe, inclusive and health-conscious school environment.

The sessions provided educators with practical strategies to implement CBSE’s School Health and Wellness Programme, focusing on self-awareness, emotional intelligence and empathy among students. The collaborative environment encouraged active participation, reflection and exchange of best practices among educators from various schools across Jaipur.

The programme concluded with a feedback session where participants expressed gratitude for the enriching learning experience. The initiative received widespread appreciation for its relevance, interactive approach and contribution towards building a healthier, happier and more resilient educational community.

Why School Wellness Capacity Building matters now

The concept of School Wellness Capacity Building is not just a nice-to-have—it’s critical in today’s schooling context. Schools globally and in India in particular are recognising that academic achievement alone is not sufficient. Children’s emotional health, mental wellness, social relationships and physical habits all interact to determine learning outcomes and life trajectories.

For instance, under the joint initiative by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), CBSE and National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), the “School Health and Wellness Programme” (SHWP) aims to reach 15 million learners in 30,000 CBSE-affiliated schools. According to CBSE’s official list, “School Health & Wellness” is a designated two-day (12-hour) Capacity Building Programme topic.

In light of increasing stress, digital exposure, gender and relational complexities, and health vulnerabilities in adolescence, building capacity among educators is a timely and strategic investment.

Setting the tone, scope and frameworks

On Day 1 of the School Wellness Capacity Building workshop at VSIS, the atmosphere was one of curiosity, purpose and collegiality.

• The welcome address by Ms Renuka Joshi framed the day: “Wellness cannot be an add-on; it must be woven into every lesson, corridor and conversation.”
• The first session, led by Ms Sunayna Nagpal, offered an overview of CBSE’s SHWP, its eleven thematic areas (including Emotional well-being, Gender equality, Interpersonal relationships, Nutrition, Preventive & protective health) and how schools are expected to implement them. These align with UNESCO’s model for the programme.
• Participants were then divided into groups for a “reflection-map” exercise: educators recalled experiences of students showing stress, unhealthy habits or social challenges—and mapped how a wellness-first approach might have intervened earlier.
• An interactive role-play followed on adolescent health concerns: the resource person invited groups to act out a scenario of a 14-year-old student struggling with peer-pressure around substance use and digital overload. Educators then discussed strategies: peer mentoring, wellness clubs, classroom check-ins and teacher-student one-to-one dialogues.
• The afternoon concluded with a panel discussion on “Building a Culture of Well-being in School” that emphasised the need to embed wellness in every school policy—from timetable planning to parent-teacher meetings.

Practical tools, interactive sessions and feedback

The second day of the School Wellness Capacity Building workshop seamlessly transitioned from theory to action.

• The morning session began with Ms Karuna Nagpal taking educators through “Life Skills & Emotional Intelligence” – exploring self-awareness, empathy, coping strategies, stress management and peer relationships.
• Teachers then participated in a “safe space design” activity: groups re-imagined classrooms, corridors and assembly spaces so they encourage student voice, inclusivity (including gender sensitivity) and physical movement—drawing from CBSE’s guidelines on inclusive wellness.
• A special session on “Creating a Health-Conscious School Environment” addressed nutrition, sanitation, movement breaks, digital detox, and safe internet behaviour—again linking with the broader SHWP thematic agenda.
• One breakout exercise had educators craft a “Wellness Action Plan” – a realistic three-month roadmap for their school, identifying lead-teachers (wellness ambassadors), parent-engagement steps, peer-mentor frameworks, and monitoring checkpoints.
• The afternoon concluded with feedback: participants shared key take-aways, expressed how the capacity building had empowered them, and committed to next-steps in their schools. Certificates were handed out, and the resource persons emphasised that capacity building is the beginning—not the end—of embedding wellness in school culture.

 the School Wellness Capacity Building event

 Adolescent health concerns

In the School Wellness Capacity Building workshop, significant attention was given to adolescent health: physical growth, nutrition, sleep hygiene, digital exposure, peer-pressure, substance use and mental health. The importance of early detection of emotional distress, orientation of students about safe behaviour, and creating trusted support networks were emphasised—consistent with earlier CBSE-led workshops.

Life skills and emotional intelligence

A key pillar of the School Wellness Capacity Building programme was equipping educators with tools to foster life skills: self-management, resilience, interpersonal skills, decision-making and emotional regulation. By enhancing emotional intelligence among students, schools aim to build better learning outcomes, healthier peer interactions and reduced behavioural issues.

 Gender sensitivity and inclusive environments

The workshop also enabled educators to explore gender sensitivity, inclusive education and safe spaces for all genders. One session focused on how wellness programmes must address gender dynamics, stereotypes, bullying and inclusivity—not merely as add-ons but as integral to creating a safe, respectful learning environment.

Impact on educators and expected ripple-effect in schools

The School Wellness Capacity Building event at VSIS had both immediate and longer-term benefits

• Empowered educators: Teachers left with renewed purpose, practical tools, peer support networks and committed wellness action plans.
• Institutional readiness: The action plans drafted will lead to concrete changes: wellness ambassadors, wellness clubs, parent outreach, monitoring metrics.
• Student benefit: With better trained teachers and a wellness-focused school culture, students are likely to experience improved emotional safety, stronger relationships, healthier habits and better academic and life outcomes.
• Community ripple-effect: As participating educators go back to their respective schools across Jaipur, they will share best practices, thereby diffusing the benefit beyond VSIS alone—raising the overall wellness capacity in the region.
• Alignment with national policy: The workshop synchronises with the broader push by CBSE/NCERT/UNESCO to build wellness-capacity across thousands of schools. Thus, VSIS serves as a local exemplar of the larger shift.

 How the School Wellness Capacity Building links with broader national programmes

The School Wellness Capacity Building initiative at VSIS is not isolated—it connects with several major national initiatives

• The SHWP (School Health and Wellness Programme) is being rolled out by UNESCO, CBSE and NCERT to 30,000 schools and 15 million learners.
• CBSE lists “School Health & Wellness (2 Days / 12 Hours)” as an official Capacity Building Programme.
• Other CBSE capacity building efforts around mental health, counselling, inclusive education and teacher professional development are in motion (for example, the counselling hub-and-spoke model) which complement wellness efforts.

Thus, the VSIS event aligns with this larger ecosystem—making the School Wellness Capacity Building not just a school-level event but part of a national systemic shift.

Next steps and actionable take-aways for schools

For schools looking to replicate or deepen their own wellness work via School Wellness Capacity Building, the following steps emerged from the VSIS workshop

1. Designate Wellness Ambassadors – teachers who lead wellness efforts, coordinate wellness clubs, monitor student well-being, liaise with parents and staff.
2. Develop a Wellness Action Plan (WAP) – identifying short-term (3-months), medium (6-months) and long-term (12-months) goals: e.g., wellness club launch; parent-student workshops; student peer mentoring; nutrition audit.
3. Embed wellness into policy and practice – ensure wellness is part of timetable, classroom routines, movement breaks, digital-detox lobbies, inclusive safe corridors, gender-sensitive practices.
4. Monitor and measure – set simple metrics: number of students participating in wellness club; number of student-teacher check-ins; feedback from students on belonging and well-being; incidence of bullying or unhealthy behaviour.
5. Engage all stakeholders – students, teachers, parents, support staff, alumni. Wellness is school-wide, not just for “wellness period”.
6. Build peer-sharing networks – educators share best practices across schools, conduct joint wellness seminars, mentor nearby schools.
7. Sustain momentum – capacity building is a start; schedule refresher sessions, wellness-review at each term, ensure visible changes in school environment (posters, student-led campaigns, dedicated wellness zones).

By following these steps, a School Wellness Capacity Building initiative moves from a one-off workshop into a sustained wellness culture.

The School Wellness Capacity Building event at VSIS stands out as a timely, well-executed and purpose-driven effort. In a time where children’s well-being, mental health and social resilience are under pressure, fostering wellness through teacher capacity, inclusive culture and structured action is not just beneficial—it is essential.

As educators, principals and school communities embark on this journey, the VSIS model offers a blueprint: combine top-class resource persons, interactive methodology, practice-oriented output (action plans), peer collaboration and a culture of reflection. The ultimate beneficiary is the learner—emotionally secure, physically healthy, socially aware and ready to face life’s challenges.