Empowering Teachers to Promote Mental Health and Well-Being in the Classroom
2 years after the escalation of the war in Ukraine, the Learning Passport is supporting mental health for teachers and students in Poland
Two years after the escalation of fighting in February 2022, the war in Ukraine continues to have devastating consequences for the country’s children. Active fighting, shelling, and strikes threaten children and their families, particularly in frontline communities. 3.7 million people remain displaced inside Ukraine, and children continue to face a heightened risk of disease, family separation, violence (including gender-based violence), trafficking, and unexploded ordnance.
Across Europe, nearly 6 million Ukrainians have sought refuge in neighboring countries. In Poland, 170,000 Ukrainian children are now attending Polish public schools and preschools. To support students in the Polish school system, UNICEF introduced the Learning Passport in June 2023. With support from Sony Group Corporation and other partners, Poland became the first country globally to launch a version of the Learning Passport specifically for teachers. Through the Learning Passport platform, teachers can access high-quality resources and trainings specifically designed to help develop their skills, improve cross-cultural communication, and support students, particularly those facing trauma, stress, and difficult situations due to the war in Ukraine.
As of February 2024, the Learning Passport has equipped 9,500 teachers in Poland with critical skills and knowledge needed to address trauma and stress in their classrooms, and support student skills building for mental well-being. Using these trainings, teachers in Poland have been able to support 200,000 children and adolescents over the last eight months.
“This was my first experience of fleeing war. I had never worked with children fleeing war either; I didn’t know how I could help. Some of the kids had it worse than me. I realized that I needed help, and that’s why I decided that I would participate in the training [on the Learning Passport].” –Primary school teacher testimonial, Poland
This year, with additional support from Sony Group Corporation and other partners, UNICEF plans to expand skills building for mental well-being and provision of psychosocial support to students through the Learning Passport in Poland, aiming to provide more resources for teachers, Ukrainian children and young people. This expansion will focus primarily on the development of new courses and adaptation of existing ones, as well as integration of language skill resources and continuous evaluation of activities to adapt the program to better fit the needs of beneficiaries. The implementation of strong mental health and psychosocial support skilling via the Learning Passport in Poland is already proving to be a catalyst for other countries to adopt these flexible courses and trainings for teachers.
“The [Learning Passport MHPSS] course is like a sprouting seed, a symbol of rebirth after all of these problems [we] experience. It shows that there’s a new life out there.” –Primary School Teacher testimonial, Poland
Since its launch in 2020, the Learning Passport has become UNICEF’s flagship digital learning program, helping over 6.5 million children and young people in 40 countries access quality inclusive education and build the skills they need for a brighter future. By offering a personalized and accessible learning experience, it addresses the educational needs of diverse learners, including those in remote or marginalized communities. To learn more, contact Amee Tolia, atolia@unicef.org.
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