By ELIZBAETH MIAE
DISASTER management and preparedness are vital in protecting children’s education when disaster strikes.
It has been reported that past disasters in Papua New Guinea had not been well managed, thus affecting the education of children.
The Education Department, in partnership with UNICEF, is conducting a three-day workshop in Port Moresby on emergency education training which involves officers from both parties including provincial disaster coordinators and NGOs.
The aim of the workshop was to train the officers to manage unpredictable occurrences of natural and man-made disasters.
Education Secretary Dr Joseph Pagelio officially opened the workshop yesterday, pointing out that natural disasters were unavoidable but working in partnership could minimise the degree of negativity on the education of children.
Dr. Pagelio said there were strategies which they could come up with to reduce the devastating impacts of natural disasters. Some of the strategies he highlighted were improving disaster management arrangement for preparedness and response and recovery activities.
“The department being responsible for overall administration of the public education system had to be able to respond to the many various requests for funding and equipment to support our children, parents and the communities affected,” Dr Pagelio said.
The workshop was the first of its kind in the country and was facilitated by Unicef’s East Asia and Pacific regional specialist for Education Gary Ovington.