MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND SPORTS

OPENING REMARKS BY DR. CLEOPHUS MUGENYI COMMISSIONER TEACHER INSTRUCTOR EDUCATION STANDARDS AT THE ORIENTATION WORKSHOP FOR EDUCATION STAKEHOLDERS IN THE DISTRICTS OF KIBAALE, KYENJOJO, RUBIRIZI AND RUKUNGIRI ON THE MANAGEMENT OF THE EDUCATION PROGRAMMES FOR THE REFUGEES AT CANON APOLLO CORE PTC

Monday 9th September 2013

Distinguished Participants Ladies and Gentlemen On my own behalf and on behalf of the Ministry of Education and Sports, I would like to warmly welcome you to this important workshop. Dear participants, we are happy for honouring our invitation and sparing your valuable time to attend this workshop. Your presence at this workshop is a manifestation of your commitment as civil servants and patriotic Ugandans to execute your duties and responsibilities through acquiring relevant knowledge, skills and attitudes about disaster and risk management; and sharing your experiences. Globally and nationally disasters are a daily occurrence that calls for concerted effort from all stakeholders. The disasters and risks includes fire, lightening, floods, wind storms, landslides, wars and drought that lead to remarkable loss of property and life. Whenever and wherever disasters occur, the repercussions have short and long term effects. Disaster has a significant impact in education and often results in damage or destruction of school infrastructure and facilities, disruption of school programmes, limited access to schooling, and decreases the quality of education. Internationally, the total number of people affected by disasters resulting from natural hazards has tripled throughout the past decade, with an average of 211 million people directly affected each year as a result of damages to homes, property, crops, livestock and infrastructure; children typically represent 50 to 60 per cent of all those affected. Suffice to note that climate change has been recognized as a key driver of disaster risk. Evidence suggests that currently 7 out of every 10 disasters are climate-related. Studies on disaster trends and the likely consequences of climate change suggest that every year, 175 million children are likely to be affected by climate-related disasters alone. A case in point is the recent floods in Kasese district whose effects will be felt for more than five years from now. However, in most developing countries disaster resulting from war appears to be the most significant leading to influx of refugees. This workshop will expose you to international and national disasters, policies to mitigate and control them; and your roles and responsibilities as stakeholders in disaster risk reduction and disaster risk management. The government of Uganda as signatory to international treaties and protocols including 1951 Geneva Convention and the Organization of Africa Unity (African Union) treaty concerned with disaster and risk management especially management of refugees. In this regard the government

enacted the 2006 Refugee Act; Public Health Act, Basic Requirements and Minimum Standards, Guidelines on School Occupational Safety and Health, and the Guide to Disaster Risk Management in Educational Institutions in Uganda. The guide help stakeholders to appreciate the value of imparting Disaster Risk Reduction knowledge to learners in order to mitigate the effects of the potential hazards and prevention of loss of life, and the multiplier effect it will have on the community. All these decisive and systematic actions have been taken to enhance the capacity of stakeholders to mitigate disasters and create a more disaster resilient society. Your participation in this workshop provides you with a rare opportunity to discuss important issues related to education in emergencies, understand what the partners do in supporting the government and ensure that the refugees enjoy international protection while in Uganda. The government of Uganda is progressively integrating education in disaster risk management, and disaster risk reduction (DRR) in curricula at every level of schooling to ensure safety and security of the population. However, we need to address two key issues: the failure of school management (headteachers, BoG, SMC, and School Directors) to implement inspection recommendations, and the lack of a budget provision to handle issues related to disasters at various administrative levels. It is our noble duty to ensure that DRR is integrated into education to teach children about how to identify and respond to risks in their communities. I wish to thank the Directorate of Education Standards for organizing this workshop, UNICEF for the financial support and the Principal of Canon Apollo PTC for accepting to host us at this beautiful campus. I wish you fruitful deliberations and I hope that you will come up with feasible work plans to address issues pertaining to disaster risk management in your respectively districts. It is now my humble duty to declare this workshop officially open. FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY