Child Friendly School System |
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The Child Friendly School System (CFSS) was initiated in Sri Lanka by Save the Children with the collaboration of National and Provincial Education Authorities in the year 2004. The CFSS Program was formulated and implemented in six (6) districts in Sri Lanka as a pilot project during the period from 2004 to 2007. The CFSS program were implemented in 224 rural schools in 6 districts of Vavuniya, Batticaloa, Maneragala, Nuwara Eliya, Colombo and Puttalum. More than 1,600 non school going and dropout children were directly benefited by this program and accessed the education through back to school program.
The Catch Up Education (CUE) classroom were organized and conducted in selected government schools and accommodated 25-30 school dropouts in these classes. The children participated were found in different age ranges and education levels. In order to cater the different age and education levels, the CUE programs were designed and conducted as multi-grade and multi-level education programs where everyone could receive benefits while studying in a Child Friendly classroom . The course curriculum modules were developed using active learning methods, locally available material and scraps as the teaching aids.
While implementing the Catch Up Education program the entire 225 schools were transformed into Child Friendly Schools by achieving seven (07) outputs with the assistance of the school administration in a participatory approach. This program also incorporated special elements to motivate School Principals and Teachers too. The seven (07) outputs of this programs can be described as below:
1.Improved Health and Well being
2.High Academic Achievement
3.Full Enrollment and Completion
4. Guaranteed Safety and Protection
5.Child Participation
6.Community Support
7.Teacher Motivation