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Beijing, 13 November 2017—UNICEF Special Advocate for Education and one of Time Magazine's global top 30 influential teens, Wang Yuan has called for increased support to improve the quality of rural education in China, so that all children have the opportunity to fulfil their potential and realize their dreams.

“It doesn't matter where you live, whether you are a boy or a girl, disabled or face other challenges, everyone has the right to a high quality education,” Wang Yuan told a press conference in Beijing today.

The 17-year-old singer and actor made his first field visit to two child-friendly schools in Sanjiang, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, at the start of the new school semester in September.

“Many rural schools have run-down classrooms and outdated facilities, but to my surprise the two schools I visited were modernised with great teaching and a beautiful school environment,” Wang Yuan said. “The Child-Friendly Schools programme has really helped. It is a pioneering concept where the best interests of the child are placed at the centre of everything and where there is a special emphasis on the psychological wellbeing of children.”

Jointly launched by the Ministry of Education and UNICEF in 2001, the Child-Friendly Schools programme has led to the development of a child-friendly schools model for China, which focuses on improving the quality of education by making it an engaging and stimulating experience for children aged 6-12 years. Participating schools follow a model which includes an emphasis on social and emotional learning to encourage good mental health, along with sport and physical education to promote healthy development and teamwork. The approach also includes ensuring water, sanitation and hygiene with improved health management capacity to encourage children to follow good personal hygiene practices, and the professional development of teachers to improve teaching quality.

“A child-friendly school helps children to achieve improved learning outcomes, transition successfully to secondary school, and learn important life skills that will enable them to make a positive contribution to society,” said Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative to China. “UNICEF is working towards every child having access to a child-friendly school. China has recognised the child-friendly schools model so we hope to see this approach replicated across the country.”

Through the long-established partnership between the Ministry of Education and UNICEF, elements of the Child-Friendly Schools programme have informed the Comprehensive School Management standards for primary and junior high schools with the potential to extend the programme's benefits to tens of millions of children, particularly those living in rural areas.

During his visit, Wang Yuan gave a music lesson to the students, visited a school vegetable garden, led children in handwashing, learned how to make dumplings, and joined a basketball training session with students. He also joined students in a social and emotional learning class discussion about what makes them proud.

“Social and emotional learning is a new concept for China. It teaches children key skills such as how to get along well with others, how to work as a team and how to be creative. I think this is as important as knowledge from a textbook and prepares children for a future in 21st century China,” he said.

China has achieved near universal access to primary education but there are significant disparities in the quality of teaching which affects learning outcomes for rural, left behind and ethnic minority children.

A film documenting Wang Yuan's visit to the child-friendly schools has been released.

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About UNICEF

UNICEF is committed to helping children around the world realize their rights to survival, development, protection and participation. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action for the benefit of children, everywhere.

UNICEF first assisted China between 1947 and 1951, providing emergency services, food and nutrition, health and hygiene training during and after the War of Liberation. In 1979 UNICEF recommenced its cooperation with the Government of China which today supports child health and nutrition, quality basic education for all boys and girls, the protection of children from violence and exploitation, child-centred social policies, and emergency response.

For more information about the Child-Friendly Schools programme visit: http://www.unicef.cn/en/publications/education/3227.html

Visit UNICEF China website:www.unicef.cn Follow us on Sina Weibo: http://weibo.com/unicefchina Tencent Weibo: http://t.qq.com/unicef Wechat: unicefchina

For more information, please contact:

Kathryn Irwin, Chief of Communication, UNICEF China, Tel: 8610 8531 2610, kirwin@unicef.org