Ministry of Education and Sports hosts Guidance and Counselling Technical Working Group Meeting

JMERC, led by our Executive Director Dr. John Mary Vianney Mitana, participated in the Guidance and Counselling Technical Working Group (TWG) Meeting convened by Uganda's Ministry of Education and Sports. The quarterly meeting brought together government officials, development partners, civil society organisations and education stakeholders to strengthen coordination and identify practical solutions for improving the mental health, psychosocial wellbeing and holistic development of children and young people across Uganda.

Convened by the Ministry's Department of Guidance and Counselling, the Technical Working Group serves as a strategic platform for reviewing progress, sharing evidence, discussing emerging psychosocial challenges affecting learners, and strengthening guidance, counselling and mental health interventions within Uganda's education system.

Strengthening School-Based Mental Health Through Evidence

During the meeting, JMERC presented its Resilience and Social and Emotional Learning (RSEL) Programme, an evidence-informed approach that equips adolescents with the knowledge, skills and support they need to navigate challenges, build resilience and succeed both in school and beyond.

The programme integrates:

• Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
• Resilience-building competencies
• Age-appropriate Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) education
• Mental health and psychosocial support approaches
• Safe and supportive learning environments through teacher and community support models.

The presentation highlighted how strengthening learners' social and emotional competencies contributes not only to improved wellbeing but also to better learning outcomes, stronger relationships and increased school retention.

Advancing National Dialogue on Learner Wellbeing

The Technical Working Group focused on reviewing ongoing guidance and counselling initiatives, discussing updates from implementing partners and exploring strategies to strengthen mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) across schools and learning institutions.

Key discussions included:

• Progress on actions from previous Technical Working Group meetings.
• National coordination of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) interventions.
• Innovative approaches to enhancing mental wellness among children and young people.
• Updates on implementation of psychosocial support discussion guides in schools.
• Opportunities for stronger collaboration among government, development partners and civil society organisations.

As one of the featured presenters, we shared lessons from implementing school-based resilience and social-emotional learning interventions, contributing practical insights to ongoing national efforts aimed at strengthening learner wellbeing.

A Shared Commitment to Stronger Education Systems

JMERC remains committed to supporting Uganda's education sector through research, evidence generation, policy engagement and implementation of scalable programmes that promote safe, inclusive and supportive learning environments.

Participation in the Guidance and Counselling Technical Working Group reflects JMERC's continued commitment to working alongside the Ministry of Education and Sports and other partners to ensure that mental health and psychosocial wellbeing remain central to education policy and practice.

By translating evidence into action and strengthening collaboration across sectors, Uganda can build education systems where every learner has the opportunity to thrive academically, socially and emotionally.

Looking Ahead

As the demand for school-based mental health and psychosocial support continues to grow, JMERC will continue partnering with government, schools, communities and development partners to strengthen evidence-informed policies and scale interventions that improve adolescent wellbeing and learning outcomes.

Together, we can build resilient learners, supportive schools and stronger education systems for every child in Uganda.