Education for Enhancing Human Well-Being: A Conceptual Perspective on Holistic and Sustainable Education

Education is a fundamental tool for the development of human beings, self-realisation, social cohesion and sustainable life. But learning with the primary focus on academic accomplishment and employment may not be enough to meet learners' needs for physical, mental, emotional, social, ethical and environmental well-being. The current views on education focus on holistic development, social and emotional learning, health promotion and sustainability education. The National Education Policy 2020 emphasizes on the multidimensionality, value-based and holistic education in India (Ministry of Education, 2020). Likewise, UNESCO highlights the link between education, health and social and emotional skills and wellbeing (UNESCO, 2024). This conceptual paper explores the concept of how education can contribute to human well-being by using an integrated approach: integrated knowledge, skills, values, healthy behaviour, emotional development and environmental responsibility. The paper draws on the educational policies and conceptual frameworks that have been reviewed, and suggests an educational framework that connects inputs and learning processes with holistic learner development and well-being. It also outlines implementation barriers and strategies for incorporating well-being into curriculum, pedagogy, assessment and teacher education. This publication features articles on topics related to human well-being, holistic education, sustainable education, social and emotional learning and teacher education and development.