Disaster-resilient school buildings are particularly important to ensure that children are protected from disaster risk and the continuity of learning when hazards strike. UNESCO provides countries with information and relevant tools on how to enhance school safety.
Last update: 22 August 2024Schools should be one of the safest places where children can be. However, that is simply not the case for many children around the world. Climate change has increased the frequency and intensity of natural hazards, and existing educational infrastructures are often not adapted or able to withstand these rising threats. Inappropriate school facilities may have poorly constructed classrooms and playgrounds, insufficient or gender-insensitive toilets, or inadequate furniture, and their very location might make them more vulnerable to disaster when hazards strike. Furthermore, lack of Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) education, combined with the vulnerability of school facilities, put students and teachers alike at risk.
Consequently, school safety has become a priority for many governments and non-governmental organizations. The issue of school safety has quickly gained recognition, and it is officially recognized by United Nations conventions and frameworks (i.e. the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement on climate change, the New Urban Agenda) that approach the issue from different perspectives.