Thirteen public schools in the territory have earned the “SMART” designation in recognition of their work to create safe, healthy and eco-friendly learning spaces, according to government.
The certification was conferred during a recent ceremony attended by principals, students, and senior government officials.
“The SMART Schools programme — integrating the use of sustained mitigation and adaptive resilience techniques — is living proof of what we can accomplish when we dream together, work together and act together,” Premier Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley said during the ceremony. “It demonstrates what is possible when partnership and purpose unite for the greater good of our children and our territory.”
To earn the certification, schools must demonstrate that they are safe structures, that their staff and students can respond effectively to an emergency, and that they take steps to reduce their carbon footprint, according to government.
Teamwork
The SMART Schools programme launched in 2014 as a joint effort of the Department of Disaster Management and the Ministry of Education.
But the 13 recent certifications also involved assistance from several other partners — in addition to a major grant, according to DDM Director Jasen Penn.
“This expansion of SMART Schools has been a collaborative effort by the DDM, Ministry of Education, [the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College] Centre for Applied Marine Studies, the BVI Red Cross and Green VI, and it was supported by [an approximately $1.4 million] grant from the European Union’s Resilience, Sustainable Energy and Marine Biodiversity (RESEMBID) programme,” Mr. Penn said.
Education, Youth Affairs and Sports Minister Sharie de Castro also spoke at the ceremony.
“Thousands of students, their families and communities are better equipped to withstand and respond to the challenges of natural hazards, climate change and environmental concerns,” she said.
The VI’s SMART Schools initiative is based on the Pan American Health Organisation’s Smart Hospital concept, and it builds on previous collaborations designed to ensure that schools are equipped and trained in fire safety, disaster-risk reduction and food safety, according to government.
