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Include disaster risk, preparedness issues in textbook curricula

Speakers urge govt

Staff Correspondent
Speakers at a national consultation yesterday said integrating issues of disaster risk and early preparedness strategies into national textbook curricula can build Bangladesh a disaster-resilient nation.
They also stressed the need for construction of safe school buildings and proper site selection for schools depending on the nature of disasters in different areas in order to use them as effective shelter homes during calamities.
The speakers also suggested setting up a special fund for schools to face disaster-related losses.
The national consultation on 'Integrating disaster risk reduction and climate change education in national policy vision' was a part of the two-day national convention kicked off the same day.
ActionAid Bangladesh in association with Advancing Public Interest Trust (APIT), South Asian Partnership (SAP)-Bangladesh, Solidarity, Esho Desh Gori and Other Vision Communication organised die convention titled Disaster risk reduction through schools' at the National Museum.
Presenting a keynote paper, APIT Director Maliha Shahjahan said a large number of schoolchildren could play an effective role in disaster management in the future if disaster risk reduction education can be mainstreamed into school curricula.
“Natural calamities have become a way of our survival. Schools should introduce basic knowledge on climate change, cyclone, earthquake, tsunami, flood and drought. Incorporating special educa-
tion on disaster management, first aid, understanding warning signs, life skills to avoid calamities can save many lives," she noted.
Maliha called on the government to finalise Disaster Management Act and National Disaster Management Policy.
Prof Sadeka Halim, commissioner of Information Commission and member of National Education Formulation Committee, underscored the need for community involvement in disaster management, pointing out schools as the best place to be started with.
Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan should provide clear guidelines on incorporating disaster issues into the education system, she added.
Hashed Khan Menon MP, chairman of parliamentary standing committee on education, said local knowledge and practices had been helping Bangladeshis for centuries in managing natural calamities.
Women and people with disabilities ate the most vul-
nerable during natural disaster for conservative social orientation. Their needs should be addressed specifically, he added.
Speaking as the chief guest, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said raising massive awareness about the disaster management would help reduce the risk of natural disaster.
“The natural disaster is happening more and the intensity of the disasters are becoming dangerous in our country," he said, adding that there is no alternative to raising awareness about thtyissue as it^, js involveyl'jh ifie'x^stence-_ol ’ the countrymen.
Nahid said the issues of natural disaster and early preparedness have already been included in the textbooks at primary levels but those were general, adding that the chapters need to be reviewed in line with modern times.
State Minister for Land Mostafizur Rahman said climate is changing and unusual thing is happening with the pace of urbanisation and civilisation.
“Time has come to say all of us to the polluters and emitters to stop greenhouse gas emissions, otherwise our country would disappear and we would be environment refugees." hesaid.
Rasheda K Chowdhury, executive director of Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE), suggested taking the perceiving capability of children into account while introducing the issues of disaster management in the textbook curricula.
“The issues should be chil-dren-friendly.” shesuggested.
ActionAid Country Director Farah Kabiralso spoke.