By Fazal Khaliq
MINGORA: School teachers and educationists have said that provision of safe environment to students in educational institutions is need of the hour.
They were talking to MP 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.
“Saving lives is the duty of every human being for which the communities must be well prepared and ready to respond in proper way in case of any emergency. When communities are trained in first aid they can minimize the severity and intensity of casualties,” said Inayatullah and Waqar Khan trainers of the Rescue 1122.
The teachers who got the training said that avoiding and responding any disaster was essential for every walk of life including teachers and students.
“It was much needed training for us and I am happy that today we learnt how to avoid manmade and natural disasters and also to respond to them. The first aid response activity which was demonstrated by the Rescue 1122 was not only interesting but also beneficial, “said Muhammad Layeq, principal government high school Shawar, Matta. He said that being untrained and unaware communities commit mistakes at the time of disaster which increased the intensity of a disaster.
Nasrullah, another teacher who got the training said that people of Swat experienced several disasters including earthquake, floods and militancy. Local residents could not tackle them well because they were not trained. “At least we are now able how to respond to disasters including fire incidents and road accidents,” he said.
Teachers said the project must be extended to all the schools in Swat so that all the students and teachers
