life-saving information and safety curriculum would be part of school syllabus
AP adopts India’s 1st School Safety curriculum and Teachers reference book
By; INN, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh, @infodeaofficial
The Department of School Education and the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Andhra Pradesh, in collaboration with Save the Children and supported by Nokia, developed India’s first Comprehensive School Safety Curriculum for Andhra Pradesh. Adopted in Telugu Language, the curriculum will be integrated from Class IV to VIIIand will be available for students from the academic year of 2018 – 19.
Minister for HRD (Primary Education, Secondary Education, Higher & Technical Education), Govt. of A. P. Ganta Srinivasa Rao launched the School Safety Curriculum and the Teachers Reference Book recently. Commending the initiative for integrating safety and protection of children from class room learning as well a major achievement to embed disaster risk reduction awareness within the education system, he said, “This effort stands as the first of its kind curriculum in India to fulfill the norms of National Disaster Management Authority’s School Safety Guidelines. It will make Andhra Pradesh schools safe and well protected.”
The curriculum has been developed in consultation with students, teachers, State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA), Revenue Department, Police, Department of Fisheries, Department of Fire, UNICEF, UNDP and civil society organizations for a span of two years.
The CSS curriculum is expected to reach over 43,000 schools, 37 lakh children and 1.7 lakh teachers in Andhra Pradesh. The focus areas under the curriculum include natural and artificial disasters, daily risks for children, inclusion aspects, school safety planning etc.
Speaking on the occasion, CEO of Save the Children, Thomas Chandy said, “With this curriculum firmly embedded within the existing text books, Andhra Pradesh will become a torch bearer for school safety in India as all children will have access to this life-saving information ensuring that school safety is holistic, ‘Home to School and School to Home’.
Vice President & Head of India Market, Nokia, Sanjay Malik added, “India is a country with tremendous potential to reap its demographic dividend. But this is possible only when our children are kept safe and empowered. It is encouraging to receive this tremendous support from the state government to continue our efforts with Save the Children to ensure school children have access to information on safety that will ensure a secure future for them.”