A workshop on introducing ASEAN Safe School Initiative was held at Thingaha Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw at 9 am yesterday.
Present at the event were Union Minister of Education Dr Myo Thein Gyi, director-general of Ministry of Education, officials of Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement, officials of Regional ASEAN Safe School Initiative, officials of Plan International Myanmar, representatives of Disaster Preparedness and Response in Education and Disaster Risk Reduction Working Group and invited guest.
Union Minister spoke of misfortunes cause to schools in ASEAN by disasters.
He said 2400 schools were closed due to 2008 Cyclone Nargis. The 2015 flood affected 4000 schools and destroyed 600 of them. Since the middle of 2008 reducing disaster risk was included in education and the government initiated Myanmar Disaster Reduction project (2017) in accordance with Sendei Framework for Action and ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER). Safe school are the priorities of ASEAN Education Work Plan and of Myanmar Disaster Reduction project (2017). School security has been carried out in Myanmar with funds and technical help from ASEAN and international organizations.
He expressed his desire for practical discussion future plans.
He went on to say that yearly disaster can delays development of country’s education and that all out effort is necessary to draw up school related policies, grand strategies and plans to build an education system that can withstand natural catastrophes.
Then, Director-General U Ko Lay Win and an official of Plan International Myanmar explained the purpose of the workshop.
The two-day workshop ended yesterday. — MNA
(Translated by Aphonsus)
