Education Minister, Fayval Williams says Caribbean countries must focus on disaster risk reduction education, as part of strategies to keep schools safe.

She was speaking at the Caribbean Safe School Initiative (CSSI) Pre-Ministerial Forum this morning.

The CSSI was launched in April 2017, during the first Caribbean Ministerial Forum on school safety.

It is the suggested framework to advance school safety in the region.

Mrs. Williams pointed to recent bomb threats at schools in Jamaica, and how guidelines relating to fire and earthquake drills were used to get institutions through the situations.

Meantime, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (C-DEMA) has lauded regional countries, including Jamaica for their efforts in implementing strategies under the CSSI initiative.

C-DEMA’s Executive Director Elizabeth Riley recognized the steps being taken by nations to keep schools safe, despite the various threats being faced.