'Educating schoolchildren on averting disasters, a must'

by Ananda KANNANGARA

The importance of educating schoolchildren on natural and man-made disasters was highlighted by Education Minister Bandula Gunawardane recently. He said schoolchildren, from their tender ages, should know how to prevent or avert disasters and take measures to minimise the destruction caused by disasters.

He said children should not take part in demonstrations or protests as such campaigns badly affect their educational activities. Quoting an incident that happened in a school in the Uva Province a few months ago, the Minister said it is the duty of the Government to resolve teacher shortages in schools.

He said students should not get involved in protest campaigns and demand the Government to appoint teachers or principals.

Such issues could be resolved amicably with area divisional educational authorities. The Minister said schoolchildren could help stop or avert natural disasters such as forest fires and the destruction of valuable forest land by people for timber. Such a situation will affect rain patterns and the existence of water resources.

Citing an example, the Minister said a group of children stopped a massive forest fire at the Knuckles Range a few months ago. When these children spotted the fire, caused by a cigarette butt thrown away by tourists, they had informed the Police on a mobile phone.

Schoolchildren had also helped stop the pollution of water resources on many occasions.