A child will only be able to continue his/her studies if a disaster-resilient environment is engendered
GULMIT: The 2005 earthquake in Pakistan that struck Kashmir and adjoining areas had a severe impact on the education system, thousands of students and teachers were killed. A large number of schools were destroyed. Most school buildings and educational institutions do not comply with the hazard resistance designs, are poorly constructed, and lack preparedness and response plans. The 2010 floods destroyed approximately 410 schools all over Pakistan. Apart from the destruction caused by natural calamities, the Army Public School attack on December 16, 2014 was no less than a mighty man-made disaster.
There is an agreement among experts that many schools collapse due to lack of knowledge and of policy formulation and guidelines for school site selection, design, construction, and use of construction materials, especially in mountainous areas of Pakistan as these areas are more vulnerable to natural disasters. Moreover, the security plans drawn up by the government for schools, both government and public, do not cater to the needs of the schools. Equally contributing to such factors is the lack of preparedness in schools in terms of evacuation plans, designated evacuation areas, and safety awareness.
NGOs have been working for long to sensitise children and community members over the preparedness measures taken in the face of natural and man-made disasters, but the government needs to supplement the efforts of NGOs by doing its own work. Most government school buildings are in a poor condition, which needs to be improved where necessary. Several schools are being allocated funds by the government on an annual basis, which barely meet the basic needs of the schools. Most of the funds are often embezzled by middle men. Many children and teachers are not aware of natural and man-made disasters and the impact they can have, there is hence a need for a mass awareness campaign. Moreover, the government needs to formulate policies regarding disaster management at school level and make provisions for curriculum enrichment in order to have disaster management incorporated in the syllabus. School buildings should be constructed under the supervision of experts. A child will only be able to continue his/her studies if a disaster-resilient environment is engendered.
Tariq Rahim Baig
Published in The Express Tribune, February 26th, 2015.
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