2020 Understanding Risk Forum - Community Session 37: Case studies highlight the need that we have witnessed in our work for contemporary design standards for school infrastructure that go beyond the traditional ‘cells and bells’ typologies that have been used for nearly a century and respond to new pedagogies, evolving functional and community requirements, and an increased need for flexibility and redundancy. 

Disasters and climate change have profound impacts on schools, and, in turn, on children’s education and lives. This year, the International Day for Disaster Reduction (October 13) focused on safe and resilient infrastructure. In light of this theme, the World Bank’s Global Program for Safer Schools (GPSS) will launch its global platform for resilient school infrastructure on October 29th. 

The GPSS held the Central Asia Regional Forum on Safer and Resilient Learning Environments in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, on October 8, 2019. The forum brought together high-level government officials, policy makers, and disaster risk management experts, as well as researchers, practitioners and key development partners from the region.