Ministry of Education Orients Regional and District Directors on Risk Prevention in the Schools

Ministry of Education Orients Regional and District Directors on Risk Prevention in the Schools
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic  2/3/2012

The Office of Impact Programs, under the Ministry of Education (MINERD in Spanish), held a meeting with 18 regional school directors and staff members from the country’s 104 school districts to raise awareness about the adequate planning and management of prevention, mitigation and responsive actions necessary to reduce risks in the event of disaster or emergency in the schools.

Mr. Estévez, who also represents MINERD at the Center for Emergency Operations, suggested that management teams in each school should identify and securely fasten any objects that might fall during an earthquake. Such objects, he explained, would include lamps, bookshelves, decorations, bulletin boards or separation walls.

Engineer and risk management specialist, Fausto A. Estévez, gave a conference on Earthquakes and the Education Centers in which he laid out the measures that should be taken in the public schools during and after a tremor or earthquake.

Mr. Estévez, who also represents MINERD at the Center for Emergency Operations, suggested that management teams in each school should identify and securely fasten any objects that might fall during an earthquake. Such objects, he explained, would include lamps, bookshelves, decorations, bulletin boards or separation walls.

He also suggested identifying an open and safe space without electrical posts, trees or buildings, either inside or outside the school building, to serve as a meeting point.

He stressed the importance of defining and clearly marking an evacuation or rapid exit route from the building as well as an area where first responders can easily enter the building. He said these evacuation and alert mechanisms should be in place and that everyone should be aware of them. A fire bell or whistle, loudspeaker, megaphone or the banging of loud objects can be used to alert people to an imminent emergency situation.

In terms of what to do in the event of an earthquake, Estévez said that it is essential for everyone to remain calm and to encourage others not to run down stairs. When on the first floor of a building, students should crouch down under their desks or tables and cover their heads with their hands. If one is on an upper level, they should move away from external walls so as not to fall into the void if they should collapse.

He urged educational directors and staff to quickly put into effect the school´s evacuation plan and alert system once a seismic movement stops. People should be reminded to move quickly and orderly to the meeting point; someone should be put in charge of bringing the first aid kits to the meeting point.

He stressed that while the quake is occurring, teachers must transmit a sense of calmness and confidence to their students and must utilize the evacuation plan to the meeting points in the very same fashion as they did during regular fire drills or evacuation exercises.

For their part, the students must take part in the evacuation in an orderly fashion, maintain the lines they are in and not break up. Once the quake has stopped, administrative personnel, teachers and students must remain alert in the event of after- hocks. No one should touch any electrical wires nor should anyone return to the building until they are totally certain that it has not suffered any significant structural damage.

Hundreds of posters and brochures were given to the meeting’s regional directors and district personnel with emergency information for the schools. This information was drawn up by the Office of Impact Programs that oversees the Risk Management Program.

In addition, the Comprehensive Plan for Gathering Information from Educational Centers was read and agreed upon. Several experts provided information and input, including Abel Herrera, information technology expert; Ezequiel Vólquez, from the Solidarity Program of the Government’s Social Cabinet; Ancell Scheker, Director of Educational Quality; Vitalia Lara, Director of the Center Private Schools; Sonia Rodríguez of DGBE and Clara Báez, Director of Early Education. They talked about the policies being drawn up in their respective organizations.

The opening speech at the meeting was given by Milagros Yost, Advisor to the Participation Organizations. Additionally, Alexis Fradera, Deputy Minister in charge of Management and Educational Decentralization, talked about the decentralization of Regional Offices, District and Educational Centers.


Engineer and risk management specialist, Fausto A. Estévez, speaking to regional directors and district educators at the Education Ministry’s conference on Earthquakes and Education Centers.