OECD Initiative on Earthquake Safety in Schools

Bookmark this page: www.oecd.org/edu/facilities/earthquakes

Reconstructing schools in New Zealand after the Christchurch earthquake: CELE Exchange article, March 2011

The impact of the Canterbury (New Zealand) earthquake on schools: CELE Exchange article, November 2010

Hard lessons from Chile and Haiti earthquakes: CELE Exchange article, March 2010

OECD Recommendation concerning Guidelines on Earthquake Safety in Schools

• Recommendation of the Council Concerning Guidelines on Earthquake Safety in Schools
• Press Release: OECD Recommendation adopted by 30 OECD Member countries, 21 July 2005

Collaboration with Economic Co-operation Organisation (ECO)

• School earthquake safety in the ECO region
• CELE/GHI Meeting with the Economic Co-operation Organisation, 3 December 2009
• Workshop on earthquake safety in schools, Istanbul, 1-2 June 2006, organised by the Economic Co-operation Organisation (ECO) and the Turkish Ministry of Education, with the support of OECD and GeoHazards International (GHI): Workshop announcement, Workshop programme, Recommendations of the workshop, ECO Press Release.

The Wenchuan Earthquake, China, 12 May 2008

• OECD hosts visit of Chinese officials in Paris for International Training Programme on the Post-Earthquake Reconstruction of Public Facilities, December 2008.
• OECD holds teleconference following the Wenchuan Earthquake
• Keeping Schools Safe in Earthquakes available in Chinese from the China Development Research Foundation
• Additional References: Bloomberg: China's Student Quake Deaths Spark Anger at School Construction; Herald Tribune: China earthquake brings faulty school design to the fore; New York Times: Earthquake in China Highlights the Vulnerability of Schools in Many Countries. 
• PEB Exchange editorial, June 2008

OECD and GeoHazards International Experts' Group Meeting on Earthquake Safety in Schools, 9-11 February 2004

• All documents

Keeping Schools Safe in Earthquakes (OECD, 2004)

• Dissemination of the publication 
• DOWNLOAD the pdf version of this book
• Introduction
• Part I: Recognising the obstacles to improving seismic safety of schools
• Part II: Defining seismic safety principles for schools
• Part III: Assessing vulnerability and risks to schools and other public buildings
• Part IV: Identifying strategies and programmes for improving school seismic safety
• Part V: Taking an initial step towards improving earthquake safety in schools: ad hoc Experts’ Group Report on Earthquake Safety in Schools
• Press Conference, Release of "Keeping Schools Safe in Earthquakes", World Conference on Earthquake Engineering, 3 August 2004

Further reading

• School collapse in the L'Aquila earthquake, Italy (CELE Exchange)
• Improving school earthquake safety in India (CELE Exchange)
• "Earthquake Safety of School Children", Regional Development Dialogue, Vol. 28, No. 2, UNCRD.
• Large-scale Disasters - Lessons Learned
• Educational Facilities and Risk Management - Natural Disasters

For more information, please contact Hannah von Ahlefeld, e-mail: hannah.vonahlefeld@oecd.org