Implementable Activities

CONTEXT

A place for learning to safeguard school communities from death and injuries due to structural collapse, damages, or malfunctions and minimise losses to school facilities investments

INTEGRATED INTO EDUCATION SECTOR POLICIES & PLANS

• Identifying hazard, assessing likely structural impacts of existing schools & facilities, and access to schools, especially in hazard-prone areas
• Implementing structural and non-structural mitigation measures to improve structural safety (including retrofitting & re-modelling e.g. expanding area for fire exit, and securing tanks, equipment and furnishings in earthquake and cyclone-prone areas)
• Safe site selection for construction of new schools

ALIGNED TO NATIONAL, SUB-NATIONAL AND LOCAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLANS

• Strict compliance of school construction to existing national building codes and other building regulations and standards
• Ensuring school buildings and facilities design able to withstand hazard impacts, including localised small-scale hazards
• Ensuring construction supervision and quality controls are handled by officials/personnel with sound technical competence on structural safety from hazard aspects and building standards
• Training on DRR considerations to relevant entities involved in school construction

Detailed Activities as Guide for Operationalising the Framework

For existing schools (in hazard zones or aging conditions)

• Conduct risk assessment on structural aspects: school site, buildings & facilities Local engineers, technicians
• Develop guidelines for school retrofitting and for school-based mitigation strategies Ministry/Department of Public Works and Construction
• Set up criteria for structural mitigation and modifications prioritising schools in highest risk zones Ministry/Department of Public Works and Construction
• Implement structural retrofit as per results of risk assessment Local engineers, technicians, local contractors
• Set budgetary provision for structural interventions Budget Bureau and Planning Department
• Develop guidelines and financing system for on-going and deferred maintenance Engineering officials, Ministry/Department of Public Works, Construction, etc.
• Ensure building maintenance conducted on regular basis and necessary actions are done
  accordingly
• Pre-position back-up system such as electricity generators, and others as required

Progress Monitoring Indicators

• B1: Guidance and regulations are in place from appropriate authorities for safe school construction (SFDRR Priority 2)
• B2: Safe school site selection, design and construction are monitored for compliance/ enforcement by appropriate authorities. (SFDRR Priority 2)
• B.3. A systematic plan for assessment and prioritisation for retrofit and replacement of unsafe schools developed and implemented. (SFDRR Priority 1)
• B.4 The prioritisation plan for upgrading of existing unsafe schools is resourced and implemented. (SFDRR Priority 3)
• B5 Education authorities promoted routine maintenance and non-structural mitigation for increased safety and protection of investments in public schools. (SFDRR Priority 3)
• B6: Planning is undertaken for limited use of schools as temporary shelters or collective centres, during the school year. (SFDRR Priority 4)

For more details download: ASEAN Common Framework for Comprehensive School Safety