News

Efforts by the Ministry of Education to make all primary schools on the island” Child Friendly” continued on Monday February 25th, with a training workshop for principals and teachers at the Public Service Training Centre (PSTC).

Chief Education Officer Steve Hyacinth told the opening of the workshop that making all schools child friendly is in keeping with the vision of the Ministry of Education.

“We firmly believe that all our schools should be child friendly schools because our focus as a Ministry is on children and secondly our vision is to ensure that each child succeeds. The Child Friendly School (CFS) initiative emphasizes that schools not only must help students realize their dreams and aspirations but that each child has a right to a basic education of good quality” remarked Hyacinth.

Thirty two primary schools in Dominica have implemented the Child Friendly School (CFS) initiative since it was introduced by the ministry of education a few years ago.

CFS refers to a school where children and adolescents acquire and develop knowledge, abilities and life skills in a healthy and safe environment which is inclusive, protective and respectful of gender differences and cultural diversity.

The Chief Education Officer emphasized that schools have a very important role in shaping the lives of children and prepare them for the challenging world.

“On a day to day basis the school must engage students in activities which seek to help children learn, what they need to learn in order to face the challenges of this new century” Hyacinth remarked.

He said “the school must also seek to enhance our student’s health and well being, guarantee them safe and protected space for learning free from violence and abuse.”

The Chief Education officer said the ideals of the CFS are consistent with the Ministry’s vision to bring about well rounded individuals.

To compliment the child friendly school initiative, the Chief education officer noted that Ministry of Education will continue to develop clear policies, implement programmes and strategies aimed at developing and improving the quality of education at schools on the island.

He noted further that “The Ministry has also been instrumental in facilitating training of teachers and improving the management capacity of schools”.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) which prides itself as working for children’s rights, survival, development and protection in keeping with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child is one of the major sponsors of the program in Dominica.