Push to include mitigation, preparation, response and recovery in regional curricula moves forward following nine country seminar
At least a dozen Afghan schoolgirls were trampled to death as they and others tried to flee to safety once the deadly 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck their country and Pakistan earlier this week. Their deaths were yet another tragic reminder of how integrating risk reduction in education is becoming a moral imperative in a region where such disasters are occurring with increasing frequency.
Asia-Pacific is the most disaster-prone region in the world, according to the latest Asia-Pacific Disaster Report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). The estimated 1,625 disasters in Asia-Pacific over the past decade account for more than 40% of the global total and cost half a million people their lives. Violence in the region – terror attacks, politically fuelled clashes, etc – only compounds this natural volatility.
Addressing a recent regional seminar on this topic, UNESCO Bangkok Director Gwang-Jo Kim said that there is a pressing need for education that teaches people skills for how best to mitigate, prepare for and respond to conflicts and disasters as well as paths to recovery.
“Education has a vital role to play in this regard, as it can contribute strongly to building resilience to disasters and conflicts and enhancing capacities of the countries in the region to mitigate their effects,” he said.
Mr Kim was speaking at the “Regional Seminar on Integrating Conflict and Disaster Risk Reduction into Education Sector Plans, Curricula and Budgets” held in Bangkok from 19-23 October.
The seminar was attended by approximately 60 people, including representatives of education and related ministries from nine Asia-Pacific countries: Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Thailand and the Philippines.
The seminar provided country representatives the opportunity to exchange ideas with experts and learn more about the practical implications of integrating C/DRR into education planning – such as costing, budgeting, etc – as well as to gain concrete tools and guidelines to make these changes in their national contexts.
Isiye Ndombi, Deputy Regional Director of UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (UNICEF EAPRO), noted that the benefits of C/DRR education could carry over for generations.
“We know that when disaster risk reduction is mainstreamed in learning and schools, it not only saves lives but the children grow to be adults who internalize the virtues of C/DRR in their daily lives,” he said. “The narrative of inter-connected risks that impact the lives of children and vulnerable groups should always be the centre of attention for the education sector.”
Mr Ndombi said the Bangkok meeting offered a chance to push forward the outcomes of the November 2014 Regional Consultation on Education and Resilience which took place in Manila, hosted by SEAMEO-INNOTECH.
“Our joint agreements and recommendations during the November 2014 Regional Consultation can now be put into action and applied to your respective policies, plans and programmes,” he said. “Actualization of the commitments set forth in the regional consultation, can now be shared with all – forming a community of practice and benchmarks, for all of us to adapt in our respective contexts.”
All representatives of organizing agencies stressed their commitment to improving C/DRR education in the region, with Mr Kim saying that UNESCO is keen to offer technical assistance to countries making this change.
Gatot Hari Priowirjanto, Director of the Southeast Asia Ministers of Education Organization Secretariat (SEAMES), outlined how “resiliency in the face of emergencies (conflicts, extreme weather and natural disasters) was on the list of his organization’s seven priority areas for 2015-2035.
“This is a reflection of how crucial we believe it is to prepare schools’ leaders, teachers and students as well as local communities in managing and maintaining the delivery of education services pertaining to [resiliency in the face of emergencies],” he said.
The workshop was organized by UNESCO Bangkok and partners UNICEF EAPRO, SEAMES, the UNESCO International Institute for Educational Planning (UNESCO-IIEP), SEAMEO’s Regional Centre for Educational Innovation and Technology (SEAMEO INNOTECH), and PEIC (Protect Education in Insecurity and Conflict), a programme of the Education Above All Foundation based in Qatar.