An international survey of teachers highlights a clear trend: social and emotional learning is no longer an optional addition to the curriculum, but an essential part of contemporary education. The latest Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) shows that Lithuanian teachers feel well prepared to develop students’ social and emotional skills – yet they emphasise the need for practical, user-friendly teaching tools.

According to TALIS data, 79 per cent of teachers in Lithuania believe they can provide substantial support in developing students’ social and emotional competences, compared with an OECD average of 73 per cent. Moreover, 92 per cent report feeling prepared to teach these topics (OECD average: 86 per cent), and 80 per cent say they frequently help students better understand their emotions, thoughts and behaviour (OECD average: 68 per cent).

“While developing Prospera Academy – our education and freedom culture initiative – we came to see that social and emotional learning is not an ‘extra’, but part of everyday school life. TALIS confirms what we observe in practice: teachers are ready,” says Aneta Vainė, Vice-President of the Lithuanian Free Market Institute (LFMI).

Turning readiness into classroom reality, however, requires effective resources. LFMI’s digital textbooks I, Citizen and Citizen in 31 Hours are designed to bridge that gap. They integrate ethics, economics and citizenship education with real-life social issues relevant to young people, helping students form a meaningful connection between abstract concepts and daily experience.

According to Vainė, social and emotional skills are foundational to developing individuals who can act not only successfully, but also freely and responsibly in modern society. Education must therefore help students view issues from multiple perspectives and understand the interplay between personal choices and social outcomes.

The integrated, phenomenon-based learning approach used in Prospera Academy’s materials encourages students to reflect on values such as freedom, responsibility, honesty and respect. Interactive tasks – including audio, video and visual content – invite learners to consider how they and others think and act in contexts ranging from volunteering to digital communication.

“Our interactive materials encourage students to step into another person’s perspective, to reflect on how we cooperate, exchange ideas and use technology. These experiences naturally lead to deeper value-based questions: what matters to me, what matters to others, and how can we build personal and public wellbeing together?” Vainė explains.

Teachers also highlight the importance of adaptable methodological tools that support diverse learning needs. Visual resources, interactive formats and flexible task planning are particularly valuable in today’s classrooms.

LFMI’s textbooks respond to these needs through methodological diversity and interdisciplinary integration. The materials are officially approved by Lithuania’s National Education Agency and are available through the national digital education platform. In 2023, Citizen in 31 Hours received the European Innovative Education Award for its integrated and interactive approach.

The findings of the OECD survey and the daily experience of schools point in the same direction: teachers are prepared to strengthen social and emotional education – and with the right tools, they can do so in ways that foster both competence and character.