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OECD Tohoku School

The OECD Tohoku School was created in 2012. It is a joint effort by the Japanese Ministry for Education, Fukushima University and other local stakeholders, supported by the OECD, to help junior and high school students in the Tohoku area to overcome their losses through projects that both support the region’s recovery and help students develop valuable competencies and skills, including resilience for the future. For more information, www.oecd.org/edu/tohoku.

See also:

• 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 : CELE Exchange article, March 2010

Collaboration with Economic Co-operation Organisation (ECO)

• School earthquake safety in the ECO region
• OECD hosts meeting on schools earthquake safety with the Economic Cooperation Organization, 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 to the Wenchuan Earthquake, May 2008
• Available in Chinese from the China Development Research Foundation
• Additional References: Bloomsberg Press: 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

OECD Recommendation concerning Guidelines on Earthquake Safety in Schools (2005)

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

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, 3 August 2004

 Further reading

• Seismic Strengthening of School Buildings in Portugal, Parque Escolar (2011)
• "School collapse in the L'Aquila earthquake, Italy" (CELE Exchange, October 2009)
• "School Earthquake Safety in India" (CELE Exchange, June 2007)
• "Earthquake Safety of School Children", Regional Development Dialogue, Vol. 28, No. 2, UNCRD.
• Large-scale Disasters - Lessons Learned (OECD, 2004)
• Educational Facilities and Risk Management - Natural Disasters (OECD, 2004)

For more information, please contact Hannah von Ahlefeld, e-mail: hannah.vonahlefeld@oecd.org or Katja Anger (katja.anger@oecd.org)