Building Resilience In Education: Handover Of Disaster-Resilient Schools In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

A handover ceremony was held at Government Girls Primary School Hazarkhawani, Peshawar, to mark the successful completion of retrofitting works carried out under the Disaster Resilient School Infrastructure (DRSI) Project. The event marked a major milestone in strengthening education infrastructure and ensuring access to safer, disaster-resilient learning environments for children across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

As one of Pakistan's most disaster-prone regions, KP has faced recurrent earthquakes and floods that have exposed the structural vulnerabilities of schools, disrupted education, and placed children at risk. In response, the DRSI Project, supported by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and jointly implemented by UN-Habitat and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the KP Elementary and Secondary Education Department, has helped strengthen school safety and resilience by retrofitting 150 schools across eight districts of KP – Buner, Malakand, Peshawar, Swat, Lower Chitral, Upper Chitral, Lower Dir, and Upper Dir – to meet critical structural safety and resilience standards. These improvements will benefit over 31,000 students, including 13,000 girls, while rehabilitating 300 latrines and water points.

The ceremony brought together representatives from the KP Elementary and Secondary Education Department, JICA, UN-Habitat, and UNDP, along with community members, teachers, parents, and students.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Abrar Khan, Programme Manager, JICA, reaffirmed Japan's support for building resilience, noting the project's contribution in enhancing educational infrastructure resilience through structural and non-structural measures, including WASH facilities.

UN-Habitat is advancing resilience and safe learning environments through the retrofitting of schools, supporting Pakistan's efforts under the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction. Mr. Hamid Mumtaz, Deputy Programme Manager, UN-Habitat, highlighted that the retrofitted schools reflect a shared commitment to resilience. UN-Habitat led the overall design and implementation of the project, which covered structural assessments, cost estimations, site planning, construction supervision, capacity building, training, and coordination with key stakeholders, while preserving the schools' traditional stone masonry.

Reaffirming UNDP's commitment, Mr. Hisashi Izumi, Programme Manager, Flood Recovery Programme, UNDP, said:

“The rehabilitation of this school and others like this is not just about repairing a building. It is about restoring hope and opportunity for young girls and children who deserve the chance to learn, grow, and thrive in a safe and supportive environment. Across KP, these schools represent an investment in education, in resilience, and in the future of communities.”

During the ceremony, Fazal e Ilahi, MPA-KP, said:

“The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa deeply appreciates the support from JICA, UNDP, and UN-Habitat, noting that the retrofitted school under the DRSI Project stands as a model of resilience, demonstrating how continued investment in safe and climate-resilient education infrastructure is vital to safeguard the future of children in disaster-prone areas like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”

Disaster-resilient schools are essential to safeguard inclusive and uninterrupted education. Dr. Ruksana Farooq, Senior Planning Officer, Planning and Development, Government of KP, highlighted that while recent efforts are making a tangible impact, the scale of need remains far greater than the available resources. Broader investment and support remain vital to expand school resilience, protect children from the growing risks of disasters, and advance progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 4, which calls for inclusive, equitable, and safe quality education.

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