A CHILD FRIENDLY SCHOOLWHAT IS A CHILD FRIENDLY SCHOOL?Childfriendlyschoolarenot architecturalphantomfromastrange place.Theyareschoolswithattributes typicallyassociatedwithgoodschools inmanycountries.However,theyhave additionalelementsthatcomplements andreinforcetheprinciplesand practicesofthechildfriendlyapproach to school. (Child Friendly School, UNICEF 2008)Qualityeducationis educationthatworksfor everychildandenablesall childrentoachievetheir full potential. Why child friendly school?Childrenaroundtheworldwhoare not in school, but it is perhaps even moredauntingtorectifythe deplorableconditionsenduredby millionsofchildrenalreadyin school,conditionsthatare antitheticaltolearning,childrens well-beingandtheirfuture livelihood.Childrenfacenegative conditionsnotonlyinschool.The home and community environment canalsoposechallengesthat makeitdicultforchildrento enrollinschool,attendregularly, complete the !nal year of the cycle orachievetheprescribedlevelof learning."ood and water insecurity, #nder nutrition , $arasitic infestations, #nhygienic surroundings, Chronic poverty, household chores, Harmful traditional beliefs and practices, %omestic overcrowding, &ender discrimination, %omestic violence, Child care de!ciencies and the increasing prevalence and severity of natural disasters related to climate change are factors that can a'ect a childs right to attend and complete school.Other reasons(hat does )illennium*s %evelopment goal +e,uires- .)%&s/ re,uires not 0ust getting all children into school, but makingsurethatallschoolsworkinthebestinterestofthe children entrusted to them.+ecogni1ingthatdi'erentchildrenfacedi'erent circumstancesandhavedi'erentneeds,suchschoolsbuild ontheassetsthatchildrenbringfromtheirhomesand communitiesandalsocompensateforshortcomingsinthe home and community environment. Theyenablechildrentoachieve,ataminimum,the knowledge and skills prescribed in the curriculum. They also help them develop the ability to think and reason, buildself-respectandrespectforothers,andreachtheirfull potentialasindividuals,membersoftheircommunitiesand citi1ens of the world.Child-friendlyschools.C"2/embraceamultidimensional concept of ,uality and address the total needs of the child as a learner. (hat are the models of the C"2 provided by #34C5"-C"2modelsfordeveloping,ualityin any education system as6"le7iblemodelsthato'er8pathwaysto,ualityrather than prescribeblueprintsthatshouldberigorouslycopiedinall situations.Heuristicmodelsthato'eropportunitiestomove towardsthe,ualitystandardsthroughaseriesof cumulativeimprovementsratherthanimposean overwhelming 8one-o' or 8all-at-onceapproach.+eformingmodelsthatre,uireseriousre9ectionon basic principlesand issues relating to the whole child as alearnerandtheconditionsthatmakeforsuccessful learningratherthanunre9ectivelyapplyanumberof technicalinputsthatareassumedtoin9uencethe ,uality of education.(hat are the key features in guiding the classroom process in a Child "riendly 2chools-Theroleofteaching:learningaidsandmaterialsincreatinga stimulatingenvironmentthatismanagedbytheteacherand enriches the overall classroom e7perience for the learner.Theinteractionbetweentheteacherandlearners,withthe teacher as authority !gure and facilitator of learning and the learner asanactiveparticipantinademocraticprocessthatinvolves mutual respect. Thepedagogicprocess,whichisbothstructuredenoughto facilitatemeasurablelearningprogressand9e7ibleenoughto facilitatetheuseofavarietyoftechni,uesforpromoting achievement of learning outcomes.(hat are the key features in cultivating a sense of community in a child friendly schools-%ailyrituals,includingmorningassemblythatmayinvolveprayers, school song or pledges to school, community or nation.$eriodicritualsmarkingritesofpassage,suchasspecialeventsfor newstudentsonopeningday,agraduationceremonyforstudents completingschool,anannualpri1eceremony,thanksgivingday, founders day or memorial day.4dentity symbols, including school uniforms, sport teams and colors, a school crest or emblem.+ulesandregulationsthatarefair,inthebestinterestof children,appliedinatransparent,democraticmanner,donot resultinthehumiliationorsuppressionoflearners,donot undermine the authority of teachers and school managers and do not alienate schools from the communities they serve.TH;3< =># ">+ =>#+?42T5343&@&>% A?522 #2 4B C & @