Submitted by Bryan Schaaf on Sun, 03/08/2009 - 13:14.
WASHINGTON, United States, March 6, 2009- The World Bank's Board of Directors has approved a US$5 million grant to help Haiti rebuild public primary schools damaged by hurricanes and tropical storms that struck the country in August and September last year.
The grant will rebuild schools and set in motion a new strategy for safer school construction. "Investing in prevention and preparedness, and improving construction standards will contribute to make Haitian schools more resilient to future natural disasters," said Yvonne Tsikata, World Bank Director for the Caribbean.
According to official statistics, it is estimated that 964 schools were seriously damaged in the 2008 hurricane season, affecting more than 200,000 children.
"The project will set the foundation for the revision of school designs, the use of some schools as community shelters in times of crises, and increased community ownership in the schools to be rebuilt," added Michael Drabble, World Bank task manager for the project.
The Emergency School Reconstruction Project will contribute to rebuilding and refurbishing an estimated 15 public primary schools, as well as reducing the vulnerability of educational infrastructure through the use of enhanced construction standards. It is expected that all new educational infrastructure will use these construction standards.
Specifically, the project will support the finance the reconstruction and rehabilitation of about 15 primary schools that have been destroyed or seriously damaged, the construction of new schools that will use better standards and building norms, attempting to prevent further collapse of school buildings and the development of a National Action Plan for Safe Schools (NAPSS).
World Bank Provides Grant for Safe School Construction
WASHINGTON, United States, March 6, 2009- The World Bank's Board of Directors has approved a US$5 million grant to help Haiti rebuild public primary schools damaged by hurricanes and tropical storms that struck the country in August and September last year.
The grant will rebuild schools and set in motion a new strategy for safer school construction. "Investing in prevention and preparedness, and improving construction standards will contribute to make Haitian schools more resilient to future natural disasters," said Yvonne Tsikata, World Bank Director for the Caribbean.
According to official statistics, it is estimated that 964 schools were seriously damaged in the 2008 hurricane season, affecting more than 200,000 children.
"The project will set the foundation for the revision of school designs, the use of some schools as community shelters in times of crises, and increased community ownership in the schools to be rebuilt," added Michael Drabble, World Bank task manager for the project.
The Emergency School Reconstruction Project will contribute to rebuilding and refurbishing an estimated 15 public primary schools, as well as reducing the vulnerability of educational infrastructure through the use of enhanced construction standards. It is expected that all new educational infrastructure will use these construction standards.
Specifically, the project will support the finance the reconstruction and rehabilitation of about 15 primary schools that have been destroyed or seriously damaged, the construction of new schools that will use better standards and building norms, attempting to prevent further collapse of school buildings and the development of a National Action Plan for Safe Schools (NAPSS).