Disaster Risk Reduction in School Curricula: Case Studies ... - Unicef

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Foreword
Disaster Risk Reduction
in School Curricula:
Case Studies from Thirty Countries
The increased exposure of countries to both natural and
man-made hazards poses a threat to lives and sustainable
development efforts.
In 2011 alone, 302 hazards resulted in disasters that claimed
almost 30,000 lives, affected 206 million people and inflicted
damages worth an estimated US$366 billion, according to the
United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (‘UNISDR’
Towards a Post-2015 Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction).
In the event of a disaster, children are the most affected,
schooling systems are disrupted, therefore affecting
a fundamental right of children, the right to education.
Developmental gains in education are reversed with the damage
or destruction of school facilities, the prolonged disruption of
education, limited access to schooling, and decreased education
quality. To effectively reduce disaster risks for communities,
the United Nations Children’s Fund ‘UNICEF’ and the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation
‘UNESCO’ recognise the important role education plays in
reducing vulnerability and building resilience. Education can
be instrumental in building the knowledge, skills, and attitudes
necessary to prepare for and cope with disasters, as well as
in helping learners and the community to return to a normal life.
This report is a mapping of countries that have included elements
of disaster risk reduction into their education system. It captures
national experiences whilst noting key challenges in countries
where disaster risk reduction is less clearly prioritised or where
specific teacher training doesn't exist.
We hope that this publication and the subsequent technical
guidance for education planners that UNICEF and UNESCO
are developing will provide support to all countries in the
process of integrating disaster risk reduction into their curricula
with examples of best practices and innovative solutions.
By placing Education and Disaster Risk Reduction at the heart
of the sustainable development agenda we are offering future
generations the chance to thrive.
UNICEF and UNESCO would like to thank the consultants who
undertook this exercise and all the members of the technical
reference group for their commitment and dedication to this project.
Qian Tang
Assistant Director-General,
Education, UNESCO
Geeta Rao Gupta
Deputy Executive Director, UNICEF
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UNISDR - Post-2015 Development Agenda
Disaster Risk Reduction in School Curricula: Case Studies from Thirty Countries