MINGORA: The teachers and educationists have said that provision of safe environment to students in educational institutions is need of the hour.

They were talking to Dawn after attending three-day training in Khwazakhela for schoolteachers on disaster risk reduction and school safety.

“The basic aim of the activity is to sensitise and train students, staff and communities and prepare them for emergency situation so that risk of massive disasters can be avoided,” said Dildar Ahmad, an official of SRSP, which implementing the project of disaster risk reduction and emergency preparedness in schools of KP with the financial support of Unicef.

He said that the activity was being carried out in 116 schools. “Of the total, 78 schools are situated in Swat. These were destroyed during the militancy and then reconstructed by USAID where teachers and students were trained to properly respond to any disaster in schools,” he said.

Mr Ahmad said that proper hazard mapping was conducted, parent-teacher councils were activated and disaster management committees were formed in the schools.

He said that children clubs were also formed in each school. He said that students were trained to play their role in coping up with emergency situations. “These children were also involved in co-curricular and other healthy activities to boost up their IQ level,” he said.

Trainers of Rescue-1122 team also took part in the sessions and performed demonstration to respond to disasters.

Published in Dawn, February 8th, 2019