Ulsan Office of Education Launches First UNICEF Child-Friendly School Program

The Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education is operating the UNICEF Child-Friendly School program for the first time this year to create a human rights-friendly school culture.

On the 26th, the Ulsan Office of Education announced that it signed a business agreement with the UNICEF Korea Committee in the reception room.

The signing ceremony was attended by Cheon Chang-su, Superintendent of Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education; Jung Gap-young, Chairman of the UNICEF Korea Committee; Hwang Sun-young, Team Leader; Kim Joo-hee, Senior Vice President of the UNICEF Ulsan City Sponsorship Association; and 11 other officials.

On this day, the two organizations agreed to promote school policies based on the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to establish UNICEF Child-Friendly Schools based on mutual trust and cooperation.

They also agreed to support the creation of principles necessary for establishing UNICEF Child-Friendly Schools and to jointly promote projects responding to the climate crisis to protect children's rights such as the right to life and the right to a healthy environment for future generations.

Ulsan Office of Education.

The operation of UNICEF Child-Friendly Schools is a campaign pledge of Superintendent Cheon Chang-su. The goal is to develop a child-friendly school model that respects the rights of members and realizes the values of children's rights, incorporating the values and ideals of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child throughout school operations, and to expand this model to schools in the Ulsan region.

The Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education plans to secure the necessary budget for UNICEF Child-Friendly Schools and start with five schools in the second half of this year, adding five more schools each year until 2025. Additionally, schools will be sequentially certified as Seed Schools (planning and establishment basis), Sprout Schools (activity-centered), and Fruit Schools (sharing activity outcomes) by UNICEF.

UNICEF provides programs and educational materials related to operation and conducts consultations necessary for official certification. Official certification is granted based on operational results.

Currently, 6,415 schools in 17 countries operate UNICEF Child-Friendly Schools, and in South Korea, 41 schools from four education offices participate.

Superintendent Cheon Chang-su said, “Education on our children's rights must start at school, and only when children understand what their rights are and the responsibilities that come with them within the community can they develop the capabilities of democratic citizens.”

He added, “The establishment of UNICEF Child-Friendly Schools will be an opportunity to establish a school culture where respect and consideration are practiced and grown together.”

On this day, the two organizations also agreed to jointly promote projects supporting migrant background children (multicultural students) and projects supporting mental health to enhance children's emotional sensitivity and literacy.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.