In order to analyze the importance of socio-emotional skills in the academic results of students around the world, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) conducted a study on more than 3,000 students around the world. In the case of Colombia, the cities selected were Bogotá and Manizales, and the results were revealed by Hannah Ulferts, a policy analyst at the OECD, at the Leaders for Education Summit held by .
This, according to the analyst, has a direct impact on academic results, and also prevents adequate development of their socio-emotional skills. For Ulferts, “Socio-emotional skills are the key to building a society. We all need social-emotional skills to interact in everyday life, to do work, and as the foundation of society. We need creative minds to be prosperous and innovative. Indeed, these skills are essential for democracy and a peaceful future.”
The study, which was conducted on students between 10 and 15 years old, analyzes socio-emotional skills in five key areas: first, on the control of mental focus to do tasks; second, whether we regulate emotions to manage stress; third, our ability to cooperate, analyzing whether we have empathy to understand what the other person needs; fourth, openness, evaluating tolerance; fifth, the ability to interact, measuring the level of sociability.
Therefore, among the first conclusions, Hannah Ulferts states: “Investing in socio-emotional and academic development does pay off. It was found that “Students who have higher grades are also those who develop greater socio-emotional skills.”
It was also found that when young people have more socio-emotional skills, they tend to seek more educational degrees at different levels, relying on their creativity, curiosity and tolerance. They are also more optimistic people, with greater energy and resistance to stress.
How to resolve this situation to create balance?
Hannah Ulferts’ top tips on this topic are:
1. Special needs must be adapted
Students with greater socioeconomic needs lack greater socio-emotional skillsboth in creativity and in tolerance, assertiveness, curiosity, sociability and empathy.
In this case, Female students report lower levels of stress resistancein emotional control, energy, optimism and confidence. Among other things, women are affected by their perception of their body image.
In the case of men, they report a low level of tolerance and empathy.
3. Strengthen socio-emotional education in schools
Especially in high schools, because 15-year-old students report lower confidence skills, optimism, energy, creativity and curiosity. This means that children, as they grow older, lose security and confidence about their future. This uncertainty affects their abilities.
Finally, the OECD analyst highlights that it is important to strengthen socio-emotional promotion to avoid the long-term negative effects of the pandemic and to incorporate education on this topic in a comprehensive manner throughout the academic process.
