Central Asian countries want to ensure the safety of educational institutions and protect children from natural disasters. Representatives of the education sector of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan met in Almaty (Kazakhstan) to discuss the issue.
The meeting was organized with the participation of UNICEF, UNESCO, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the Government of Japan and the World Bank. The main topic of discussion was the analysis of progress in the implementation of a comprehensive school safety program for 2022-2030 in Central Asia.
Schools must provide a safe learning environment where children and their education are not in danger.
UNICEF Representative in Kazakhstan Rashed Mustafa Sarwar
It is noted that Central Asia faces threats such as earthquakes, floods and extreme weather events that threaten the safety of children and their continued access to education. Many schools in the region are located in disaster-prone areas, making them structurally vulnerable and at significant risk.
International organizations offer policy recommendations to governments and partners to make schools safer, ensuring equitable and continuous access to quality education for all.
Participants from countries in the region call for increased investment in strengthening school infrastructure.
