SECTION I: INTRODUCTION
A commitment to
safer school buildings
The Comprehensive School Safety Framework,
adopted by United Nations agencies and development
actors globally, aims to:
• Protect learners and education workers from death,
injury and harm in schools.
• Plan for educational continuity in the face of all
expected hazards and threats.
• Safeguard education sector investments.
• Strengthen risk reduction and resilience through
education.
The framework places specific responsibility on those
responsible for the construction, repair and retrofitting of
school buildings. These responsibilities stem from two
of the fundamental rights of children, and complement
sustainable development goals of providing safe and
positive learning environments for all.
1. Every child has the right
to safety and survival.
• Every new school building should be planned,
designed and constructed to minimum standards of
life safety.
• Every existing school strengthened, renovated,
remodelled, refurbished or modernised should be
brought up to the life safety standard.
• Every school designated as a shelter for
emergencies and disasters should meet the higher
standard of operational continuity.
2. Every child has the right
to access education.
• Every school building should be constructed to
protect a child’s access to education from hazards.
• Every school should be maintained to protect
education sector investments from hazards.
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