Enhancing emotional resilience and community cohesion in Nigerian primary schools: the role of child-friendly school initiative

The Nigerian educational system faces persistent challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, socio-economic disparities, and cultural barriers, which impede holistic child development. The Child-Friendly School Initiative (CFSI), championed by UNICEF, offers a transformative approach emphasizing inclusivity, safety, health literacy, and participatory governance. This study evaluates the effectiveness of CFSI in Delta State, Nigeria, by comparing CFSI and non-CFSI schools across three dimensions: emotional health, health literacy, and community cohesion.

Using a descriptive survey design, data were collected from 1,229 participants, including pupils, teachers, and community leaders. Instruments were adapted from UNICEF’s evaluation framework, achieving reliability scores of 0.77 to 0.87. Statistical analyses, including Chi-square and ANOVA, were conducted at a significance level of 0.05. Results revealed that CFSI schools significantly outperformed non-CFSI schools in promoting emotional resilience (p < 0.01), implementing health education curricula (p < 0.01), and fostering community cohesion (p < 0.01).

The findings underscore the critical role of CFSI in addressing health disparities, reducing absenteeism, and enhancing social integration. Barriers such as resource limitations, cultural resistance, and insufficient teacher training were identified as constraints to scaling up CFSI. Recommendations include targeted interventions to expand CFSI across Nigeria, addressing funding gaps, promoting community ownership, and integrating health literacy into educational frameworks. This study contributes to the discourse on sustainable educational reforms, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on quality education, health, and reduced inequalities.