DUSHANBE, September 28, 2012, Asia-Plus -- On September 18, the Institute of Professional Development and Retraining of Employees in the Field of Education in Khatlon province held its opening meeting at the Coordination Council of the Educational Sector, Center for Community Disaster Preparedness Education (CCDPE) in emergency situations under the Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defence of Khatlon region, press release issued by Oxfam Tajikistan on September 27 said.

The meeting was attended by the Deputy Chief of the Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defence of Kulob district A. Yusufov, executive staff of the Public Education Department of Khatlon region M. Murtazoyev, head of Pre-school and Public Education Department H. Jumayeva, Director of the Institute of Professional Development and Employees Retraining of Kulob zone J. Namozov, Head of the Civil Defence Department of Kulob University D. Abdulloyev, lecturer at the faculty of Civil Defense of Kulob Teachers’ Training College F. Bazhov F, Oxfam staff members B. Rahmatulloyev B. and M. Ibrohimov.

Co-Chairmen of the Coordination Council are Yusufov A. and Murtazoyev M.  The main purpose of the Council is to coordinate the activities of the above mentioned structures of education and retraining in quality learning activities during emergency situations of natural and man-made disasters, as well as disaster management.

The meeting participants noted that unfortunately, schools and kindergartens (pre-school organizations) are not yet ready to fully declare that preschoolers and school children are able to respond in emergencies, but specialists of these institutions are able to manage emergencies and ensure security within these institutions.

Educational structures are intending to create a mechanism within a year which will successfully give a solution to this issue through organizing of a training, raising the possibilities of the Council; in the first place the Committee of Emergency Situations and Civil Defense, exchange of information and experience, development of training modules which would meet modern requirements, consolidation of educational materials and mobility of training structures.

The Coordination Council approved the annual work plan in which one of the first points was the commemoration of the International Day for Disaster Reduction, which will promote trainings on disaster preparedness and strengthen this trend in educational institutions.