Strengthening Student Well-Being through CASEL-Based Social and Emotional Learning

Abstract

Social and Emotional Learning based on the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning framework has emerged as a strategic educational approach designed to develop students’ emotional intelligence, interpersonal competence, and academic success. Focuses on five interconnected core domains: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. This study aims to examine the role and challenges of implementing in Indonesian elementary schools in fostering students’ psychosocial well-being and academic outcomes. Employing a qualitative method through comprehensive library research, this study analyzes a wide range of scholarly articles and reports from various educational contexts. The results reveal that SEL significantly enhances students’ empathy, emotional regulation, positive behavior, and learning engagement, which collectively contribute to better academic performance. However, challenges remain concerning teacher readiness, limited professional training, curriculum integration, and insufficient policy support. Therefore, active collaboration among schools, families, and communities is crucial to ensure the effective, sustainable, and culturally responsive implementation.