UNICEF Rep Updated on Child Friendly Schools

Details

Education

Monday, 18 June 2012 02:30

By caribarena news

Antigua St. John’s – As part of her familiarisation tour of her jurisdiction, the newly appointed UNICEF Representative for the Eastern Caribbean Khin Sandi Lwin sought to gain first hand knowledge of the progress of the country’s Child Friendly Initiative (CFS) programme.

Ms Khin was accompanied by UNICEF Communications Specialist and Focal Point for Antigua & Barbuda, Patrick Knight, as she paid a courtesy call on Director of Education Jacintha Pringle. Both were briefed about the progress and plans in the CFS Initiative and its Early Childhood programme.

The UNICEF rep also visited three participating CFS plants and got a better perspective of the initiative in the Antiguan society.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) Summer Institute will focus mainly on Special Education and Math. The sessions are part of the MOE-UNICEF planned training sessions for 2012. They include Positive Behaviour Management for principals and lead CFS teachers in primary and secondary schools, Speech and Language Therapy and Autism.

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Parents, the general public and particular members of civil society will also have an opportunity to learn more about CFS and the topics in specially arranged sessions.

The Summer Institute will be held from July 9 – 20 at the Antigua Grammar School.

Child Friendly Schools are schools where everything is done with the child’s best interest in mind. They make it possible for children and adolescents to acquire and develop knowledge, abilities and life skills in a healthy and safe environment which is inclusive, protective and respectful of gender differences and of cultural diversity.

The three main principles of Child Friendly Schools as identified by UNICEF are:
 
Child-centeredness: This suggests that everything is done in the best interest of the child (ensuring that lunch and breaks are set, the size of the classes are appropriate, the teaching methodology is appropriate; that there is a safe area for play; positive discipline is practiced)
 
Democratic participation: This is a process where all stakeholders (including children and their parents) have a say in the curriculum; children are involved in student governance and have interactive classrooms so that the curriculum is relevant to the students
 
Inclusiveness: This means that all children have a right to education, regardless of their circumstances (race, ability, gender, ethnicity, economic status, physical limitations to name a few).
 
These principles can lead to the transformation of the physical facilities and services offered by schools while forging stronger links between homes, schools and communities.
All public primary schools in Antigua & Barbuda and two secondary schools are now working on implementing CFS practices.

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