"Careers that require the mastery of social-emotional skills have outpaced growth in all other occupations- and employers increasingly look for these skills in their employees. 79 percent of employers overwhelmingly identify social- emotional skills as being the most important qualities needed for success-and at the same time, the hardest qualities to find in the labor force."

https://www.cfchildren.org/

Why do we educate children? Is it to prepare them for life as responsible citizens? Or perhaps we want them to make lots of money and become wealthy? Maybe, we don't really think about the why and simply follow the dictates of society, the laws of the land, the expectations of our peers. Whether we think about the reason as educators or parents, we need to broaden the scope of education to include social-emotional learning. As a lifelong learner, a psychotherapist, and an educator, my journey has been

traumatic to say the least. The skills that have counted the most and enabled me to develop resilience, tenacity, and creativity are emotional regulation, self-control, communication, and positive thinking. These are social-emotional skills. And these were skills I needed when I was learning maths.

Bio:

Dr. Tapo Chimbganda is an educator, mental health practitioner, and published writer of three books: The Classroom as Privileged Space; #Blacklove and Who Killed Chatunga? a satirical story based in her native country Zimbabwe. For almost 20 years’ she has worked in community and non-profit organizations, schools, and healthcare. She has taught and presented on diversity, equity, and inclusion; social justice and safe space in Australia, Finland, Ireland, Canada, and Scotland. In 2019, she founded

Future Black Female, a feminist-informed organization that privileges, celebrates, and advocates for the rights and well-being of Black women and girls. Through its different programs, including a COVID Response program, Future Black Female responds to the unique needs of Black female youth in Canada and beyond.