Conducting Situational Analysis for Comprehensive School Safety Program: An Experience of Observing 65 School Safety Indicators through Score Card

The school safety is one of the significant measures in the national disaster management plan. School Safety is important because students, teachers, parents and school authorities can concentrate on developing and maintaining better  and safe learning environment within school premises where everyone feels safe and secure.  AIDMI under the aegis of Education Department, Government of Gujarat and Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management with support of UNICEF conducted Situation analysis of 250 School of 10 vulnerable district of Gujarat.

Vipul Nakum from AIDMI coordinated this situation analysis. The following piece of highlights Vipul Nakum’s experience about this situational analysis. In this research and study Vipul covered  namely Ahmedabad, Surat, Jamnagar, Bharuch, Patan, Devbhoomi Dwraka, Kachchh, Dahod, Banaskantha and Sabarkatha. Each district has its own hazards including  Earthquake, Flood, Drought, Cyclone, Lightening and Heat Wave. Rajdeep Bansod of AIDMI interviewed Vipul Nakum.

Question 1: Every year the Govt. of Gujarat celebrates school safety week to create awareness among students and teachers. What are your views on school safety and why SitAn is important for Gujarat?

Vipul: SitAn for CSSP acted as a key tool to critically observe the current scenario of education facilities in relation to Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Safe School Facilities and Child Protection. SitAn has provided a room to find out gaps, challenges and opportunities to develop further actions. UNICEF has made the entire exercise possible through continuous and coordinated support and guidance of all levels.

Question 2: How school safety and child protection are integrated and have you covered this educational aspect in your SitAn?

Vipul: Yes, SitAn is focused on three pillars. One of the factor, safe school facilities have shown good result, as the school infrastructure in Gujarat is in worthy condition in most locations.

Question 3: How your research and study will further help to reduce the risk in school and to gain good learning environment in the schools of Gujarat?

Vipul: Result of SitAn will help the departments and related stakeholders in developing future action plan for making more appropriate safety measures for schools in Gujarat.

Question 4: Government of India envisioned to implement National School Safety Guidelines in each state successfully. What progress is made in the state of Gujarat?

Vipul: The Gujarat government is taking keen interest in implementation of each aspect of National School Safety guidelines in the state and has made considerable efforts to implement it. Government in support with UNICEF and concerned other stakeholders, developed a school safety score card along with state specific action plan and also issued necessary guidelines for the implementation in each school.

Question 5: Do you have any approach or plan to study situation of school safety and security in other states and what is your opinion on CSSSP?

Vipul: Based on current experience of conducting CSSSP activities in five states of India similar activities will be developed and enhanced in other states as well. The challenges is to facilitate the needs of school safety and security in most vulnerable states of Himalayan region and costal region of India.

In concluded remarks Vipul Nakum also mentioned the contribution by Gujarat Institute of Disaster Management (GIDM). He stated that GIDM has provided a platform where departments and stakeholders came together and promised to leverage their support in making schools safer in the Gujarat.

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for any further information please contact: bestteam@aidmi.org  

 

– AIDMI Team