Teach disaster management in schools - NADMO boss

The National Disaster Management Organisation(NADMO) has called on the Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service (GES) to ensure that Environmental and Disaster Risk Reduction ( DRR) Management is part of the basic school curriculum.

Mr Mahama Ken Kazar, Talensi-Nabdam District Director of NADMO, made the call at Tongo during a quiz competition organised by NADMO on “Environment and DRR Management” for basic schools.

He said the DRR Management project operated by World Vision Ghana (WVG), a non-governmental organization (NGO) is yielding positive results as school children are becoming change agents in their schools and communities.

Collaborators of the project include NADMO, Community Development and Advocacy Centre and GES.

Mr Edward Awuunure, District Chief Executive expressed concern about environmental problems such as open defecation, littering of polythene bags and bush burning in the area.

The Assembly, he said had provided dustbins at vantage points in the District for people to dispose their refuse.

“The Assembly is also working closely with Zoomlion Company Limited, a Waste Company to ensure that public places like the market…and other social gathering grounds are made clean,” he said.

Mr Faara Joachim, District Director of Education said his outfit is happy about the impact of WVG Environmental and DRR Management project and indicated that it would be replicated in other schools.

“GES is not only to teach students to write examination and pass but to also teach them to become environmental conscious. We will ensure that Environmental and Disaster Risk Reduction Management become part of the basic school curriculum.

“Any organisation that develops its developmental programmes without inculcating environmental and DRR is bound to fail,” he said.

Mr Norbert Akolbila, a Manager of WVG, said as a child focus NGO the body considered Environmental and Disaster Risk Reduction Management very important.

At the end of the competition Awaradone Primary School emerged the overall best with 33 points followed Pwalugu Primary School with 32 points. Yindure Primary placed third with 24 points. Individual competitors took home books.

Certificates and items such as dustbins, shovels, wheelbarrows and rakes were presented to the competing schools.