Why Emotional Education Matters in Schools?

By Fizza Javed* and Nurul-Ain-Shah*

Pakistan’s Educational system is missing a piece of puzzle that disrupts the proper grooming of children. Imagine a classroom where students are not just learning realities and figures but get to grips with their own emotions, mastering resilience, and growing into well-rounded individuals who understand regulation and balance. In Pakistan, where the education system often prioritizes high grades over emotional well-being, critical thinking, and creative expression, this vision remains unrealized. Yet, with the growing challenges of mental health crises, social pressures, rising crime rates, and rapid technological disruptions, it is clear that emotional regulation is no longer an amenity, it is an essential skill for today’s students.

Importance of emotional regulation for children

Emotional regulation is the ability to manage and respond to emotional experiences in a healthy and productive way. Emotional regulation equips students to handle stress, make better decisions, and foster positive relationships. Studies show that it enhances academic performance while building resilience and empathy (Gross, 2015). In a country like Pakistan, where academic pressure and socio-economic challenges weigh worryingly on young minds, integrating emotional regulation into school curriculums could be transformative. It promotes emotional intelligence, inclusiveness, and cultural awareness, enabling students to manage complex emotions and ethical dilemmas. Learning to cope with anger, anxiety, and sadness helps students develop a healthier mindset, a critical need in Pakistan's often under-supported school environments.

Mental health dilemma in Pakistan

In Pakistan, mental health concerns, particularly among children and adolescents, are growing alarms. According to a 2020 report by the Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences, nearly 25% of children aged 10–19 years suffer from some form of psychological distress, yet mental health services and support in schools persist to be scarce. The lack of emotional regulation education contributes to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and behavioral disputes among students. Moreover, social and cultural pressures, combined with academic stress, often result in students experiencing emotional mayhem. In many cases, students are expected to achieve high academic standards without having the tools to manage the stress that comes with it.

Case Studies on Student Suicides in Pakistan

  1. Scout Cadet Suicide (Mansehra):
    A first-year student, Mohammad Tauseef, was found hanging in his hostel room at Pakistan Scout Cadet College, Batrasi. The college management reported that he used his uniform's belt to take his life. His body was transferred for autopsy, and an FIR was registered. (Dawn, November 30, 2023)

  2. Student Suicide (Chitral):
    Rashid Ahmed, a first-year student from Jughoor village, Chitral, reportedly died by suicide after alleged intimidation by a local lady doctor. A case was registered against her under Section 322 of the Pakistan Penal Code. (Dawn, November 30, 2023)

  3. Girl’s Suicide (Chitral):
    A female college student from the same village as Rashid Ahmed took her life by jumping into a river. This incident highlighted ongoing mental health challenges faced by students in the region. (Dawn, November 30, 2023)

  4. Saifullah Jamali, Faisalabad:
    In 2018, Saifullah Jamali, a final-year chemical engineering student at NFC Institute of Engineering and Fertiliser Research (IEFR), committed suicide by shooting himself outside the university. His death sparked outrage on social media, with his cousin claiming that ongoing disrespect and failure from a professor contributed to Jamali’s decision. The incident raised significant concerns regarding the mental health of students in high-pressure academic environments.

Therefore, inculcating  emotional regulation into school curriculums could help students manage stress, reduce anxiety, and better cope with the pressures of academic life.

Importance of emotional regulation in school curriculums

  • Academic success: Students who can regulate their emotions perform better academically.

  • Guarding mental health: Teaching emotional control helps prevent anxiety and depression, common among Pakistan’s youth.

  • Constructing strong social skills: Emotional regulation builds empathy, improves communication, and strengthens relationships.

  • Resilience in adversity: Pakistani students face significant socio-economic challenges. Emotional regulation helps students manage stress, avoiding harmful outlets like substance abuse.

  • Lifelong skills for success: These skills prepare students for life beyond school, enhancing their future success in relationships and careers.

Strategies:


Technique

Description

Key contributor

Mindfulness techniques

Deep breathing, meditation, and relaxation exercises to manage stress.

Jon Kabat-Zinn

Social and emotional learning (SEL)

Programs that build self-awareness, empathy, and emotional control.

Daniel Goleman

Emotion-focused discussions

Safe spaces for students to discuss feelings and learn emotional management strategies.

Leslie Greenberg

Teacher training for emotional regulation

Training educators to recognize emotional distress and offer practical support for emotional regulation.

Daniel Goleman

Socio-emotional learning (SEL) programs (e.g., RULER)

Teachers use tools to teach emotion recognition, understanding, and management directly

Hoffmann et al.

Role-playing & scenario-based learning

Students act out situations to practice emotional responses, empathy, and conflict resolution.

De Neve et al.

Structured play for younger students

Cooperative games for younger children to develop emotional control and foster positive social interactions.

De Neve et al.

Key points on teacher training for emotional regulation:

  • Emotional intelligence in teachers: Educators who manage their own emotions effectively are better at modeling emotional regulation for students, enhancing classroom behavior and learning.

  • Self-regulation training: Programs like Mama Training emphasize the link between teacher emotional intelligence and classroom dynamics, showing that improved teacher self-regulation leads to better student outcomes (Nasruddin & Hariyanto, 2022).

  • Mindfulness & conflict resolution: Training integrates mindfulness and conflict management techniques, helping teachers and students manage stress and social interactions effectively (Deliu & García, 2024).

  • Teacher-student relationships: Teachers trained in emotional regulation foster better engagement, creating supportive environments that enhance both academic and social success (Fuentes-Vilugron et al., 2021).

Road  forward for Pakistan: Education isn't just about passing exams or getting good grades; it's about shaping well-rounded individuals who can handle life's ups and downs. By focusing on emotional resilience, we give our students the strength to manage stress, make thoughtful decisions, and find balance in a fast-paced world. If Pakistan truly prioritizes emotional well-being in its schools, we can tackle the growing mental health challenges faced by our youth, empowering them to succeed not only in their studies but in life. We owe it to our future generations to create a system that doesn't just teach minds, but also nurtures hearts, preparing them for whatever comes their way.

Mastering Your emotions: Quick hacks to tame anger, anxiety, sadness & overwhelm:

We all need emotional regulation, this is a cheatsheet to deal with the present emotion you`re feeling.

Emotion

Steps for regulating the emotion

Feeling angry

  1. Take 3-5 deep breaths before reacting.

  2. Identify the trigger, What exactly made you angry? Is it the situation, a person, or something else?

  3. Is your immediate reaction helpful, or should you approach the situation differently?

  4. Try squeezing a stress ball, going for a walk, or using deep breathing exercises.

  5. Once calm, express your feelings constructively, using "I feel" statements (e.g., “I feel upset because...”).


Feeling anxious

  1. Focus on your surroundings or try the 5-4-3-2-1 grounding technique (list 5 things you see, 4 you feel, etc.).

  2. Identify the source, What’s making you anxious? Is it a specific event or a general feeling?

  3. Ask yourself, "Is this thought realistic?" or "What’s the worst that could happen?"

  4. Break tasks into smaller, manageable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

  5. Try deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or mindfulness meditation.


Feeling sad

  1. Acknowledge the emotion. It’s okay to feel sad—allow yourself to experience the emotion without judgment.

  2. Do something comforting. Engage in a favorite activity, talk to a friend, or write in a journal.

  3. Reflect on why you’re feeling this way. Can you identify a specific reason or event?

  4. Replace “I’ll always feel this way” with “This feeling is temporary.”

  5. Talk to a trusted friend or family member if you need someone to listen.


Feeling overwhelmed

  1. Prioritize tasks.Write down everything on your mind and rank tasks by importance.

  2. Step away from your current environment and do something relaxing for a few minutes.

  3. Focus on the present. What can you do right now? Avoid thinking too far ahead.

  4. Practice self-compassion: Remind yourself that it’s okay to feel overwhelmed, and you’re doing your best.

  5. Use Positive affirmations.Tell yourself, “I can handle this, one step at a time.”


References

  1. World Health Organization (2020). Mental health: Strengthening our response.
     United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2022). World Crime Trends and Emerging Issues.

  2. Gross, J. J. (2015). Emotion regulation: Current status and future prospects. Psychological Inquiry, 26(1), 1-26. https://doi.org/10.1080/1047840X.2015.965051

  3. Dawn. Three student suicides in Mansehra and Chitral highlight mental health concerns. Available at: https://www.dawn.com/news/1793681 

  4. Gulf News. Pakistani student commits suicide, tweeps ask for justice. Available at: https://gulfnews.com/world/asia/pakistan/pakistani-student-commits-suicide-tweeps-ask-for-justice-1.2286767

  5. Simply Psychology. Emotion Regulation Examples - Emotional Control. Available at: https://www.simplypsychology.org/wp-content/uploads/Emotion-Regulation-Examples-Emotional-Control-768x768.jpg 

  6. Ghumman, S., & Hassan, Z. (2020). Prevalence of mental health problems among Pakistani adolescents. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences.

  7. Durlak, J. A., Weissberg, R. P., Dymnicki, A. B., Taylor, R. D., & Schellinger, K. B. (2011). The impact of enhancing students’ social and emotional learning: A meta-analysis of school-based universal interventions. Child Development.

  8. World Health Organization. (2017). Mental health status of adolescents in South-East Asia: Evidence for action.

  9. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. (2018). Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey.

  10. Kabat-Zinn J. Full Catastrophe Living: Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness. 1990

  11. Goleman D. Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More Than IQ. 1995. Weissberg RP, et al. Social and Emotional Learning: Past, Present, and Future. Handbook of Social and Emotional Learning. 2015

  12. Greenberg LS. Emotion-Focused Therapy: Coaching Clients to Work Through Their Feelings. 2002

  13. Jennings PA, Greenberg MT. The Prosocial Classroom: Teacher Social and Emotional Competence in Relation to Student and Classroom Outcomes. Review of Educational Research. 2009


*Fizza Javed

*Noor-ul-Ain Shah graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Public Health (BSPH) from the National University of Medical Sciences Millennium Fellow, Class of 2023,Coordinated the Literary Committee at NUMS Research Associate in the Global Health Department at Health Services Academy (current)

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