Quetta, MTT News Desk: The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in collaboration with United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Culture Organization (UNESCO) are developing a comprehensive Plan of Action for School Safety in Balochistan.

This project is in continuation of draft plan, which was developed by UNESCO in 2010, involving key public sector and civil society organizations.

UNESCO provided technical support to Government of Pakistan and the Provincial Government to draft the Plan through a consultative process, laying a road map for School Safety in Pakistan.

On Monday, PDMA Balochistan held a workshop at Balochistan Boy Scout Association to review the draft and finalized for review.

The draft was submitted to the Government of Balochistan. The Workshop was attended by the officials from PDMA, representatives of district administration, PITE, Bureau of Curricula, EDO, PPIU, BBSA, SCSPEB, RSPN, Safe the Children, SAAD, BED and other civil society organizations.

The workshop was also attended by the official from other UN agencies including UNICEF, UNDP, WHO, UNHABITAT. UNESCO provided technical and financial assistance for the workshop under One UN Disaster Risk Management Program.

Welcoming the participants, PDMA Director Dr. Muhammad Siddiq Raisani said that school safety is critical and Balochistan is going to be the first province to finalize the Plan of Action.

He also informed that Balochistan is implementing One Million Safe Schools and Hospitals Campaign in collaboration with National Disaster Management Authority.

On the occasion, UNESCO Representative Dr. Kozue Kay Nagata said that the workshop is a milestone event lauding Balochistan Government for being the first province to have the Plan ready for approval.

Highlighting the importance of the implementation and the monitoring of the Plan, Dr. Nagata said “A plan that remains unimplemented serves no purpose.”

A well articulated plan of action backed by strong commitment of all political leaders and the bureaucracy as well as government budget allocations could easily attract external support, she remarked.

The School Safety Plan of Action was reviewed and cleared by the participants for review and approval by the Government of Balochistan.

The Plan provides a comprehensive road map of actions that will be undertaken for school safety in a holistic and a systemic manner over a period of 4 years.

Another output of the workshop was discussion and agreement on the tasks and the structure of Provincial Inter-Departmental Working Group for implementation of Disaster Risk Reduction in Education.

PDMA will present the final draft to the Government of Balochistan for approval.

The School Safety Plan of Action is expected to be a planning and a reference document for all stakeholders to immediately act upon for improvement of school safety in the province.