As part of the National Program for Happiness and Wellbeing Initiatives

250 New Schools Join the ‘Well Schools Network’ to Enhance Positive Education and Wellbeing Principles

• Building the Skills of More Than 100,000 Students Nationwide
• 9,000 Teachers Take Part in Efforts to Promote Wellbeing in Schools

Dubai, 06 March 2019: More than 250 UAE public and private schools have joined the Well Schools Network, which was launched by the National Program for Happiness and Wellbeing in cooperation with the Ministry of Education. The initiative aims to promote the positive learning environment based on the wellbeing of more than 100,000 students of various educational stages and more than 9,000 teachers. The network called upon parents to interact and engage with the various programs launched by participating schools. The updated list of schools enrolled in the network is available on the website: WSN.HW.GOV.AE

The Well Schools Network is designed to develop students’ personal and positive skills in parallel with academic skills. It also aims to boost students’ interest in adopting a healthy lifestyle and building positive interaction between them, their teachers and the society. The networks’ programs focus on four main pillars, which include students and families, teachers, school environment and society; all of which complement the UAE Government's efforts to promote wellbeing, healthy lifestyle and personal skills.

The National Program for Happiness and Wellbeing hosted several workshops to acquaint schools with the network’s work mechanisms and to answer school coordinators’ queries. The workshops were moderated by Dr. Bushra Al Mulla, Director of Education and Community Development Department, at the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and the Future in the presence of H.E. Fawziya Gharib, Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education for Academic Affairs sector.

Skills in Support of Wellbeing

In collaboration with participating schools, the network seeks to equip students with a set of basic skills in line with four pillars, offering optional elements to help schools wishing to impart positive education and wellbeing concepts and enable students to acquire the associated skills. The four pillars include students and families, teachers, school environment and society.

In the first pillar, which focuses on students and families, the network seeks to encourage healthy eating habits and healthy lifestyle among students. It also aims to motivate and encourage self-accomplishment and positivity in students; encourage positive interaction with students’ families and instill awareness on wellbeing skills in students and their families.

In the Teachers’ pillar, the network aims to boost the sense of recognition and positivity amongst teachers, as well as positive student/teacher relations; promote teachers’ positive behavior as role models for students and promote a healthy lifestyle amongst teachers.  

In the School Environment pillar, the network seeks to engage students and schools in fostering a positive school environment; promote social activities and teamwork, as well as encourage positive relations amongst students and combat bullying.

In the society pillar, the network seeks to encourage students to undertake volunteering work in the community; promote students’ positive communication skills, cultivate positive social behaviors among students, enhance students' awareness of the UAE’s vision and future plans, and highlight prominent characters and role models in society.

Promoting Wellbeing in Education

The Well Schools Network is a national network available on optional membership for public and private schools in the United Arab Emirates. It offers flexible mechanisms and advisory support to schools wishing to impart positive education based on the science of wellbeing from experts on positive education and wellbeing. The network also provides financial support to related activities and initiatives undertaken by member schools and honors distinguished schools with the “Well Schools’ Mark’, which highlights the school’s outstanding efforts in promoting positive education and wellbeing. obtaining such mark will serve as a proof of the school’s excellence in promoting positivity and wellbeing among parents and the community.

The launch of the ‘Well Schools Network’ is part of the efforts of the National Program for Happiness and Wellbeing to implement the objectives of the National Wellbeing Agenda, which aims to boost wellbeing in the learning and work environments alike.