Marking a safe passage: Plan for safe schools in disaster-prone areas

PDMA in collaboration with Unesco is developing a comprehensive plan to make schools safer in K-P.

The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in collaboration with Unesco is developing a comprehensive plan to make schools safer in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa after FATA, Sindh and Balochistan, stated a press release issued by Unesco.

A workshop was held in Peshawar to draft the school safety action plan to highlight the necessity of safe schools, especially in areas vulnerable to floods and earthquakes.

During his welcome speech, PDMA Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction consultant Vasif Shinwari highlighted the importance of implementing the action plan at the provincial level.”

We need to devise a scientifically informed policy”, he said.

A Unesco official said that the recent floods had destroyed 2,000 schools and educational buildings in disaster-prone districts, adding that, “Only a well-articulated plan of action backed by a strong commitment of all political leaders along with government budget allocations would easily attract external support.”

The School Safety Plan of Action will be sent to the K-P government for endorsement, once recommendations from government departments have been incorporated.

Officials from PDMA, army, the academia and private schools were represented.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2011.