When can school be called a child friendly school?

SCHOOL is where healthy and happy children learning from caring and motivating teachers with families and community helping all children boys and girls become the best they can in a safe and nurturing environment.

A child friendly school is more than just a place from formal reading, foremost, it is an institution that recognizes and respects the range of rights of children, and not just their right to be educated. These rights also include their rights to be healthy, to be given opportunities for play and leisure, to be protected from harm and abuse, to express their views freely and participate in decision- making according to their evolving capacities.

While upholding children’s rights, a child friendly school instills in children the responsibilities that go with their rights. Among these are to respect the rights of others, respect diversity, practice equality and resolve differences without resulting to violence.

Just as important, a child friendly school takes the lead in shaping a learning environment that enables children to learn as much as their intellectual abilities could take. It is a kind of environment that allows them to grow healthy, equips them with knowledge and skills that they can use throughout life, and enables them to become responsible and productive members of their community and society.

By Dominga P. Gravidez