"People are paying attention to disasters. We have to think how to teach our children about the issues," Assoc Prof Jeradechakul, director of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation Secretariat (Seameo), said. "With severe natural disasters affecting many parts of the world, Asean countries and Timor-Leste are being encouraged to provide education on the reduction of disaster risk so people can protect themselves", reports The Nation.
At their 34th annual meeting, high officials launched a project named Sameo-Japan Education for Sustainable Development, which will focus on disaster risk reduction in the first year. It will include a competition between member countries and motivate primary and secondary schools to offer their ideas on reducing disasters. The winner of the competition will go on a tour in Japan to learn and share best practices with schools there.