August 5, 2026 @ 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm
Theme: The Many Faces and Facets of Socio-Emotional Learning for School Safety & Security
Speaker: Dr. Joel C. Javiniar
SEAMEO INNOTECH convened the Seminar Series on Education, Innovation, and Technology on 5 August 2026, featuring Dr. Joel C. Javiniar, Dean of the College of Education, University of the Philippines Diliman. His presentation, “The Many Faces and Facets of Socio-Emotional Learning for School Safety & Security,” explored the role of socio-emotional learning (SEL) in creating learning environments where learners feel safe, supported, valued, and engaged.
Dr. Javiniar emphasized that academic achievement and learner well-being should not be treated as competing priorities. He described SEL as the “heart of education,” highlighting the importance of educating not only the mind but also the heart. He explained that SEL develops learners’ capacity to understand and manage emotions, set positive goals, demonstrate empathy, build healthy relationships, and make responsible decisions. He further stressed that SEL need not become an additional subject, but can instead be intentionally integrated into everyday teaching and learning.
The discussion also broadened the concept of school safety beyond physical infrastructure. Dr. Javiniar highlighted physical, psychological, and digital dimensions of safety, and presented SEL as relevant across prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery. In this context, teachers serve as a critical protective layer for learners by fostering positive relationships, listening actively, practicing inclusive and fair approaches, and building classroom environments characterized by trust and belonging.
The session also highlighted the importance of a whole-school approach involving teachers, school leaders, parents, families, and communities. Dr. Javiniar shared practical ways of embedding SEL into school life, including regular emotional check-ins, reflection routines, strengthened guidance and anti-bullying mechanisms, attention to teacher well-being, and the integration of empathy, teamwork, and resilience across existing learning areas.
Notably, Dr. Javiniar featured SEAMEO INNOTECH’s Contextualized Social and Emotional Learning Competency Framework for Filipino Learners, developed with ChildFund. He highlighted its Filipino framing of SEL through concepts such as pagkilala sa sarili, pamamahala sa sarili, pagsisikap, pagiging responsable, pakikisama, and pagmamalasakit, demonstrating how socio-emotional competencies can be understood within the experiences and values of Filipino learners.
Ultimately, the presentation underscored that the measure of education extends beyond what children know to whether they are able to learn, grow, thrive, and flourish in environments where they feel safe, seen, heard, supported, challenged, and inspired. As Dr. Javiniar concluded, “Students learn best when they know they matter.”
Resources
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