Viet Nam to Integrate Disaster Prevention Education in the National School Curriculum

Some 4,979 students in 4 schools across Viet Nam participated in a regional project that helps schools to assess their disaster risk, develop emergency management procedures and train students to protect their lives in natural hazards. Story and Photo: Phan Huong Giang/UNDP Viet Nam

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) signed and launched a five-year programme (2018-2023) to strengthen schools’ preparedness for natural hazards.

"This programme will bring disaster preparedness into our schools. Disaster education helps students, teachers, and communities work together and make informed decisionsto on how to respond to natural disasters, minimize the possible damages and, thereby, contribute to Viet Nam’s economic development,” said Mr. Nguyen Xuan Cuong, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development.

At the signing ceremony, the Minister of Education and Training, Mr. Phung Xuan Nhashowed high appreciation for this initiative on climate change adaptation and disaster prevention targeting younger generations, and especially high school students.

Minister Nha said that the MOET will develop teaching materials suitable for different regions and ages of students, based on the best research available. The MOET plans to make these documents part of the regular curriculum and extracurricular activities. This will give teachers and students access to the knowledge they need to prepare for climate change and disasters.

Exposed by its 3,260-km coastline to 19 types of disasters such as typhoons, floods, coastal erosion and landslides, Viet Nam is one of the most hazard-prone countries in the East-Asia and Pacific region.

Partnering with the Government of Viet Nam for 40 years, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) has been supporting the government in its national formulation and implementing the global development agenda, such as the Sendai Framework for disaster risk reduction, the Paris climate Agreement and its commitments to the SDGs. UNDP has also been a key ally in the development of a policy framework including the first law on natural disaster in 2013. It also promoted institutional reforms like the establishment of the first Viet Nam Disaster Management Authority (VNDMA), in 2017, and has been strongly involved in building its capacity.

UNDP highly welcomed this initiative. Through the strong partnership, UNDP and VNDMA organized disaster awareness education activities and emergency evacuation drills in Viet Nam in 2017 for example a campaign named “Schools of Son Tinh” equipped nearly 5,000 students in areas vulnerable for floods and storm surges with skills and knowledge to save their lives. The success of UNDP’s disaster prevention projects lay the foundation for UNDP to provide further support to the government in this five-year programme.