The education system is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters, and officials are taking steps to increase the resilience in the school environment.
This is being done through the Safe School Recognition Programme Workshop, hosted by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA); the Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training, and the Department of Emergency Management (DEM).
The workshop, which commenced today at the Erdiston Teachers’ Training College, will see principals from 37 schools receiving training in disaster preparedness, as well as being able to conduct assessments of school premises to ensure compliance with the National Safe Schools Policy.
Addressing the opening of the workshop, Director of the DEM, Kerry Hinds, underscored the importance of the safe school initiative.
Ms. Hinds noted that although disaster risk management has been promoted in the education sector through the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Education, DEM and other stakeholders, the Safe School Recognition Programme allows for the integration of disaster risk reduction within a structured and systematic policy framework.
“We cannot ignore the fact that we operate in a multi-hazard environment….Collectively, we can work to raise awareness and advocate for disaster risk reduction, enhance disaster risk knowledge among the population, engineer practical and innovative solutions to reduce our vulnerability to emergencies and disasters in the school environment, and engender general disaster readiness and preparedness.
“This Safe School Recognition Programme represents such a practical and innovative programme to reducing our vulnerability in the school environment,” Ms. Hinds said.
Also speaking at the event was Deputy Director at CDEMA, Lieutenant-Colonel Kester Craig. He noted that the Safe School Recognition initiative was a component of the agency’s flagship Model Safe School Programme, which is centred on comprehensive risk management and is compatible with international standards for school safety, and features a green component to help schools become environmentally friendly and sustainable.
The workshop will conclude on June 16.