Disaster management lessons for state students

Following footsteps of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Maharashtra government has decided to impart knowledge on disaster management to students of the state-run schools so as to enable them to face the situation effectively.

"The lessons on disaster management would be first introduced in Standard IX and X curriculum from next academic year," state relief and rehabilitation secretary K S Vatsa said. Later, the state plans to introduce the same in Standard VII and VIII as well, he added.

The secretary said the training of 150 teachers of the state government-run schools from Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane on the subject had already begun.

Vatsa further said the syllabus consisting of issues related to disaster vulnerability and emergency preparedness during any kind of natural calamity has been finalised after discussion with Maharashtra Council of Educational Research and Training (MCERT) and state's secondary and higher secondary board.

"This would make the students aware on emergency situation during any disaster, including all kinds of natural calamity, and ways to face them," he added.

After the tsunami disaster that killed thousands in the country, CBSE had announced its decision to introduce lessons on disaster management in its schools.