PRESS RELEASE

Andhra Pradesh adopts India’s first Comprehensive School Safety Curriculum and Teachers Reference Book

14 March, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh

The Department of School Education and the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Andhra Pradesh, in technical collaboration with Bal Raksha Bharat and support from NOKIA, developed India’s first Comprehensive School Safety Curriculum for Andhra Pradesh in Telugu Language. This curriculum will be integrated from Class IV to VIII and will be available for students from the academic year of 2018 – 2019 in Telugu Language.

Shri. Ganta Srinivasa Rao, Hon’ble Minister for Human Resource Development (Primary Education, Secondary Education, Higher & Technical Education), Govt. of A.P. launched the School Safety Curriculum and the Teachers Reference Book at an event held here.

The curriculum development took 2 years and has been done in consultation with Children, Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority (APSDMA), Revenue Department, Police, Department of Fisheries, Department of Fire, UNICEF, UNDP, School Teachers and Civil Society Organizations.

The CSS Curriculum will reach over 43,000 schools, 37 lakh children and 1.7 lakh teachers in Andhra Pradesh and educate children on Natural Disasters, Human-made disasters, Every-day Risks of children, Inclusion aspects and School Safety Planning etc.

The Hon’ble Minister commended this initiative for integrating Safety and Protection of Children from class room learning as well a major achievement to embed disaster risk reduction awareness within the education system. Speaking on the occasion, he said, “This effort stands as the first of its kind curriculum in India to fulfill the norms of National Disaster Management Authority’s School Safety Guidelines. It will make Andhra Pradesh schools safe and well protected.”

Thomas Chandy, CEO of Bal Raksha Bharat pointed, “With this curriculum firmly embedded within the existing text books, Andhra Pradesh will become a torch bearer for school safety in India — as all children will have access to this life-saving information,” ensuring that school safety is holistic, ‘Home to School and School to Home’.

Sanjay Malik, Vice President & Head of India Market, Nokia added, “India is a country with tremendous potential to reap its demographic dividend. But this is possible only when our children are kept safe and empowered. It is encouraging to receive this tremendous support from the state government to continue in our efforts with Bal Raksha Bharat to ensure school children have access to information on safety that will ensure a secure future for them.”

“Bal Raksha Bharat started working in A.P. in 1977 and has been working around the globe since 1919.”

For further information, contact:

Bal Raksha Bharat: Vikas Gora – 9958699913 and K. M. Ranganathan –  9490427941
www.savethechildren.in