Skip to main content

Lessons from the Recovery of the Education Sector After the Indian Ocean Tsunami

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Disaster Risk Reduction ((DRR))

Abstract

In the aftermath of a disaster, the repair and reconstruction of schools can symbolize community survival. The resumption of classes can be one of the most effective ways to demonstrate a return to normalcy to the local population. Schools become the glue that holds a fractured community together. This chapter reviews the recovery of the education sector after the Indian Ocean Tsunami, emphasizing the similarities and differences in the recovery experience across India, Indonesia, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. Good practices as well as unsuccessful attempts in several issues, such as education sector recovery coordination, resumption of classes, reconstruction and relocation of schools, school-community partnerships, integration of disaster risk reduction education into the school curriculum, and reaching out to the most disadvantaged children, are highlighted to provide valuable lessons for education sector recovery in future disasters.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • ADB (Asian Development Bank), UN (United Nations), World Bank (2005) India post Tsunami recovery program: preliminary damage and needs assessment. http://www.tnrd.gov.in/externallyaidedprojects/Tsunami_rehabilation/india-assessment-full-report[1].pdf

    Google Scholar 

  • Baez J, de la Fuente A, Santos I (2010) Do natural disasters affect human capital? An assessment based on existing empirical evidence. http://ftp.iza.org/dp5164.pdf

  • Bastidas P, Petal M (2012) Assessing school safety from disasters: a global baseline report. UNISDR, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Bitter P, Edirisinghe MNS (2013) Introduction of disaster safety in the Sri Lankan education system: factors for success. http://www.ukfiet.org/cop/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/Bitter-Edirisinghe_-Introduction-of-Disaster-Safety-in-the-Sri-Lankan-Education-system-Factors.pdf

  • Esteban M, Tsimopoulou V, Shibayama T, Mikami T, Ohira K (2013) Analysis of Tsunami culture in countries affected by recent Tsunamis. Proc Environ Sci 17:693–702

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fernandez G, Shaw R, Takeuchi Y (2012) School damages in Asian Countries and their implication to Tohoku recovery. In: Shaw R, Takeuchi Y (eds) East Japan earthquake and Tsunami: evacuation, communication, education, and volunteerism. Research Publishing Services, Singapore, pp 201–221

    Google Scholar 

  • GFDRR (Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery) (2009) Guidance notes on safer school construction. GFDRR, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • HHF (Happy Hearts Fund) (2005) Educate yourself of disaster statistics. http://www.happyheartsfund.org/disstat.php

  • Jovel R (2005) The economic impact of the 26 December 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami in Thailand. http://www.adpc.net/maininforesource/dms/thailand_assessmentreport.pdf

  • Kuo S, Means B (2012) Corporate social responsibility after disaster. Wash Univ Law Rev 89(5):973–1016

    Google Scholar 

  • Lauten AW, Lietz K (2008) A look at the standards gap: comparing child protection responses in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the Indian Ocean Tsunami. Children Youth Environ 18(1):158–201

    Google Scholar 

  • Masten A, Obradovic J (2008) Disaster preparation and recovery: lessons from research on resilience in human development. Ecol Soc 13(1)

    Google Scholar 

  • Nakagawa Y, Shaw R (2004) Social capital: a missing link to disaster recovery. Int J Mass Emerg Disasters 22(1):5–34

    Google Scholar 

  • Nikku BR, Sah N, Karkara R, Ahmed S (2006) Child rights perspective in response to natural disasters in South Asia: a retrospective study. Save the Children Sweden, Kathmandu

    Google Scholar 

  • Nwe YY (2005) Children and the Tsunami, a year on: a draft UNICEF summary of what worked. http://www.unicef.org/spanish/emerg/disasterinasia/files/WhatWorked.pdf

  • Peek L (2008) Children and disasters: understanding vulnerability, developing capacities, and promoting resilience—an introduction. Children Youth Environ 18(1):1–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Rodriguez H, Wachtendorf T, Kendra J, Trainor J (2006) A snapshot of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami: societal impacts and consequences. Disast Prev Manag 15(1):163–77

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rognerud EW (2009) Experiences in post-disaster education recovery and school reconstruction: a case for investment in ‘Soft Components.’ http://gfdrr.org/docs/Presentation_WB_21Jan_09_EWR.pdf

  • Shaw R, Takeuchi Y, Fernandez G (2012) School recovery: lessons from Asia. http://www.iedm.ges.kyoto-u.ac.jp/School%20recovery_low.pdf. Accessed 28 Mar 2014

  • Telford J, Cosgrave J (2006) Joint evaluation of the international response to the Indian Ocean Tsunami: synthesis report. http://www.sida.se/Publications/Import/pdf/sv/Joint-Evaluation-of-the-International-Response-to-the-Indian-Ocean-Tsunami_3141.pdf

  • UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) (2005a) Children eager to return to schools in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. UNICEF, New York. http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/index_25059.html

  • UNICEF (2005b) Hundreds of schools destroyed by Tsunami. http://www.unicef.org/media/media_24847.html. Accessed 18 Apr 2014

  • UNICEF (2009a) Children and the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami: evaluation of UNICEF’s response in Indonesia (2005–2008), Country Synthesis Report. UNICEF, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • UNICEF (2009b) Children and the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami: evaluation of UNICEF’s response in Maldives (2005–2008), Country Synthesis Report. UNICEF, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • UNICEF (2009c) Children and the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami: evaluation of UNICEF’s response in Sri Lanka (2005–2008), Country Synthesis Report. UNICEF, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • UNICEF (2009d) Children and the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami: evaluation of UNICEF’s response in Thailand (2005–2008). UNICEF, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • UNICEF (2010) Education in emergencies training facilitators’ guide. Asia-Pacific Shared Services Centre, UNICEF, Bangkok

    Google Scholar 

  • UNISDR (United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction) (2006) Disaster risk reduction begins at school: 2006–2007 World disaster reduction campaign. http://www.unisdr.org/files/2105_VL108003.pdf

  • Wickrama KAS, Kaspar V (2007) Family context of mental health risk in Tsunami-exposed adolescents: findings from a pilot study in Sri Lanka. Soc Sci Med 64(3):713–23

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wisner B (2006) Let our children teach us! A review of the role of education and knowledge in disaster risk reduction. Books for Change, Bangalore

    Google Scholar 

  • World Bank (2010) Estimation of post-disaster needs for recovery and reconstruction. World Bank, Washington

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) of Japan for the generous scholarship grant that made it possible for the first author to pursue his Master’s and PhD degrees at Kyoto University. We also acknowledge the financial support provided by the Global Center of Excellence Program on Sustainability/Survivability Science for a Resilient Society Adaptable to Extreme Weather Conditions (GCOE-ARS) of Kyoto University for the first author’s research activities.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Glenn Fernandez .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer Japan

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Fernandez, G., Shaw, R., Abe, M. (2015). Lessons from the Recovery of the Education Sector After the Indian Ocean Tsunami. In: Shaw, R. (eds) Recovery from the Indian Ocean Tsunami. Disaster Risk Reduction. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-55117-1_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics