IMPACT
We speak about “…where learning and development can prosper…” and the preliminary findings on the connection between literacy and socio-emotional literacy.
We explored how emotional wellbeing and academic success are connected in schools where Community Keepers (funded by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation) and Click Learning work together. All 30 schools used Click Learning’s literacy tools. What differed was access to CK psychosocial support in only 20 of them (10 established CK offices and 10 newly opened CK offices).
What stood out:
- At a school level, there are consistent trends of better academic performance where both psychosocial and academic support are present.
- While the data shows a strong correlation between psychosocial support and improved academic outcomes at the school and grade level, it doesn’t confirm a direct causal link. The connection is real, but complex.
Why this matters:
This is powerful evidence: when trauma is addressed and emotional literacy is supported, academic programmes are more effective.
Removing barriers to access:
In 2007, our founders discovered that the ratio of state social workers to learners in South African public schools was a concerning 1 : 32 000
By 2012, we read that this ratio had dropped to 1 : 23 000 (STATE SOCIAL WORKERS TO LEARNERS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS)
.
Our own ratio to access is:
1 : 990 (CK SOCIAL WORKERS TO LEARNERS IN OUR PARTNER SCHOOLS)
1 : 440 WHEN WE ADD OUR CARE FACILITATORS (MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AIDERS
.