89 Percent of East Java High Schools in Disaster-Prone Areas, Only 2 Percent Prepared

The East Java Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has found that the vast majority of senior high schools in the province are situated in disaster-prone areas. According to data obtained by the agency, approximately 89.2 percent of these schools fall into the high disaster risk category. However, only two percent have undergone the Disaster Safe Education Unit (SPAB) training programme. Gatot Soebroto, Chief Executive of BPBD East Java, stated in Surabaya on Wednesday that out of a total of 4,088 senior high schools, vocational schools, and Islamic senior high schools in East Java, 3,645 are classified as highly disaster-prone. The high number of schools in vulnerable areas is not matched by their disaster training capacity, with Gatot noting that only around 95 schools have received SPAB training. In response, BPBD East Java is once again conducting a Training of Facilitators for the Disaster Safe Education Unit (TOF SPAB) for 50 teacher representatives from 38 regencies and cities across East Java. This initiative aims to accelerate the improvement of teacher capacity as a mitigation measure and to strengthen school resilience. It is hoped that the TOF SPAB programme will enable the acceleration of school resilience through enhanced teacher capacity, which can then be implemented in their respective schools. Sukari, Chair of the Indonesian Teachers Association (IGI) in East Java, expressed appreciation for BPBD’s consistent annual collaboration in conducting the TOF SPAB programme. He emphasised that involving teachers in disaster capacity building is crucial, as teachers are at the forefront of the education and learning process in schools. He expressed confidence that the disaster preparedness materials provided would help realise the acceleration of school resilience, ultimately creating safe and comfortable educational environments.