Latest update April 24th, 2024 12:59 AM
Oct 10, 2018 News
– in quest to advance safety and Disaster Risk Management in schools
Creating safe environments for teachers and students in the face of a disaster is among the top priorities of the Ministry of Education. The Ministry of Education is not taking lightly school safety and Disaster Risk Management.
These were amplified Monday at the opening session of a four-day Mission being held by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] in partnership with the Presidential Agency on International Cooperation of Colombia.
The team from Colombia comprises Secretary of Education, Colombia, Mr. Miguel Ochoa, and other education officers including representatives from the University Of Antioquia, Colombia. The Mission is geared to facilitate the transfer of Risk Management and School Safety between Guyanese and the Colombian contingent.
According to District Education Officer, and Coordinator of the Mission, Mr. Sherwin Blackman, the partnership started over a year ago between the Education Ministry, EPA and the Government of Colombia.
He said that the goal is to create a mobile system to teach risk management and first aid for the benefit of schools. He said that it is important that when discussing the issue of risk management, it must be understood not only in the context of natural disasters but other social issues.
Delivering the feature address at the forum was Region Ten Education Officer, Ms. Marcia Paddy, who said that in May 2018, a representative from the Education Ministry [Mr. Sherwin Blackman] and the EPA represented Guyana in Colombia in an exploratory visit to gain experience in disaster risk management in schools.
“This was with the understanding that Guyana will do its part in implementing processes that will result in safer and greener educational facilities, that the education sector will work towards the continued reducing of risk at schools and establish an ideal, yet adaptable approach to risks management at the school level,” said Paddy.
Even as she underscored that the plan will be implemented in an organised manner, Paddy explained, “It is a structured in-depth process that encompasses a variety of approaches and synergies. The Ministry of Education recognises the significance of Risk Management and School Safety in the promotion of best practices of risk management.”
This development comes on the heels of a competition in 2017, which saw the participation of three schools which were assessed based on their vulnerability. These schools were Diamond Secondary, South Ruimveldt Secondary and Tucville Secondary.
Following this competition, Paddy said that action plans with recommendations for improving each of the named school’s safety and disaster risk reduction were designed.
Against this background, the Model Safe School Programme is being piloted at three other schools—St. John’s College, Richard Ishmael Secondary School and Dolphin Secondary School.
Paddy said that the long-term expectations as a result of the training is geared at the development of comprehensive protocols for risk management equipment and to ensure teachers and students are trained as first responders with basic first aid skills.
Executive Director of the EPA, Dr. Vincent Adams, said that Guyana is a blessed country. He noted that save for floods, the country is not affected by any major natural disaster.
Despite this, he reminded that Guyana is still vulnerable since it is below sea level.
He said that risk management and risk analysis will teach Guyanese, especially children, how to be prepared and what to do if certain situations arise. Dr. Adams added that with climate change being inevitable, preparedness is necessary.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Colonel Kester Craig, Director General (ag) of the Civil Defence Commission, said that children are an important group since they are strong and resilient, adapting to stresses that weaken most adults.
However, he noted that children are still vulnerable.
He noted that educational facilities need to be retrofitted to make the environment safe. According to the Director General, this needs to be done at both private and public schools with implements that are simple, applicable and adaptable.
He said that personnel within the school system needs to be trained and equipped to protect those persons who come under their charge.
Secretary-General of the Guyana Red Cross, Ms. Dorothy Fraser, noted that training in the areas of risk management and school safety is imperative so that young people, parents and teachers can know how to prevent disaster and administer aid.
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