ISLAMABAD: In a step towards safeguarding educational institutions across the country, the National Disaster Risk Management Fund (NDRMF) in partnership with the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training has launched the NatCat Safe School Application, a digital tool designed to enhance the safety and resilience of school infrastructures across Pakistan.
The application was jointly launched by CEO NDRMF, Bilal Anwar and Federal Secretary of Education Mohyuddin Wani as part of the government’s ongoing efforts to mitigate the impact of natural disasters on educational institutions. The event also included the signing of a MoU between NDRMF and the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training to promote safe school culture in Pakistan.
The NatCat Safe School Application leverages data from stakeholders, including teachers, parents, and students, combined with risk and loss information from the NatCat Model. The application identifies vulnerabilities in schools and assesses risks posed by natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods, and landslides. By gathering and analysing data on school buildings and their surroundings, the app enables authorities to develop and implement retrofitting plans that enhance the resilience of educational facilities.
The application also offers continuous monitoring of school infrastructure, evaluating the effectiveness of retrofitting measures, and providing real-time data to support disaster preparedness and response. The NatCat Model, which has already cataloged over 134,281 schools, including madrassas and various school levels, ensures that the data collected can be efficiently used to enhance decision-making.
The NDRMF was established by the Government of Pakistan in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to increase the country’s resilience to natural disasters.
Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2024
