School safety and security

www.oecd.org/edu/schoolsafety

A safe and secure environment is a prerequisite for effective teaching and learning. Threats to the safety and security of people and property can arise from natural hazards – for example earthquake, floods and storms – or from human actions – such as vandalism, arson, and violent crime. While catastrophic events and human tragedies cannot be eliminated entirely, there is a role for facility designers, institutional managers, emergency response teams, and post-crisis intervention in mitigating their negative impact.

• 13-15 January 2010, International Conference on Safer Schools, Safer Communities,  London, UK, co-organised by OECD/CELE, the UK Department for Schools, Children and Families, UK Home Office and the Building Research Establishment. Register here: www.isssc2010.com. Download brochure.
• OECD School Earthquake Safety Initiative, including the OECD publication Keeping Schools Safe in Earthquakes and the OECD Recommendation Concerning Guidelines on Earthquake Safety in Schools. 
• 11-13 July 2006, “International Educational Security Conference”, organised by the International Security Management and Crime Prevention Institute, in co-operation with PEB, Adelaide, Australia: website, conference programme.
• Lessons in Danger, International Conference on School Safety and Security, Paris, 12-14 November 2003 (BUY this publication)
• "Helping Schools Prepare for and Respond to Terrorist Attacks", experts' meeting in Washington D.C., 13-14 February 2002
• OECD response to the Asian tsunami disaster

For more information, please contact Richard Yelland, e-mail: richard.yelland@oecd.org

OECD publications and articles on school safety and security.

Additional references: GeoHazards International (GHI), National Alliance for Safe Schools (United States);

OECD in the News: New York Times; Herald Tribune; Bloomberg.