Challenges and Opportunities for Enhancing Wellbeing in Croatian Kindergartens and Schools
摘要
Croatian national documents in the field of early childhood and preschool care and education, primary education, and secondary education clearly recognize the importance of the wellbeing of students and teachers in kindergartens and schools. Therefore, in the overview of Croatian national curricula presented in this chapter, it is easy to see that wellbeing is emphasized and highlighted in the Croatian education system. Furthermore, representatives of the scientific community and mental health experts are on the cutting edge and very active in scientifically researching student and teacher wellbeing and developing evidence-based prevention, promotion, and intervention programs to be implemented in educational institutions to ensure overall wellbeing. Although there are many programs presented here, several challenges could be identified, from the point of identifying students’ and teachers’ mental health needs to meeting those needs in order to have happy and satisfied students and teachers in the end. Therefore, in analyzing these challenges in the Croatian education system, relevant research findings and best practices, as well as the strengths and weaknesses in promoting wellbeing in kindergartens and schools, with possible implications for the quality of education policy, are examined.