The importance of playgrounds in school spaces

India is a big country with a growing population as a concerning issue. There is an increase in construction activities such as, construction of flats, malls bungalows and so on. With land becoming scarce in these areas there is an increase in traffic, and problems of parking, pollution, and so on.

One of India’s biggest cities Ahmedabad, with a population of 52,52,197 has total number of schools at around 2323. (Gujarat Revenue Department) It has been reported that in the country, 52% schools do not have a playground. The same may be applied to Ahmedabad as well (India together). It is also interesting to see a British study (Find Articles) suggesting almost 60% to 80% students injured on school playgrounds. These same playgrounds generally have an important role in mental and physical growth of a child. When children are not involved in any co-curricular activities, they may also suffer from depression, and the proportion of such children according to an Australian study is 8.4%. (Medicine Net). One can note that playgrounds provide an avenue for a child’s mental and physical growth, which can help them bring out their various potentialities. Playgrounds are also useful during emergencies.

If a school does not have a playground, in an emergency situation, school authorities can make provisions for a party-plot, garden, or any such empty space close by so that children can be assembled during emergencies and their safety/security can be assured.

Sources:

• http://revenuedepartment.gujarat.gov.in/applications/content.asp?Content_Id=763&T itle_Id=195&language=G&SiteID=8
• http://www.indiatogether.org/2004/aug/edu-firesafe.htm
• http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1145/is_n4_v33/ai_20552693/
• http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=118570

Some thoughts on “SCHOOL SAFETY” in South Asian countries

Image source: Google Maps

Recently, we have been conducting some research for one of our clients on South Asian disaster history and its impacts on schools.

The interesting, unfortunate and perhaps already well publicized event is of the Kashmir earthquake in 2005 in which 17,000 School children were killed (out of a total life loss of some 80,000 reported) – the biggest known single event disaster to hit school buildings collectively. The number is exceptionally high because the earthquake struck during school hours. Other schools during other emergencies have been luckier – because it is the ‘important hours’ rather than ‘all hours’ that the children would spend in schools.

The next disaster events topping the list in the sub-continent are fire incidents, floods, war/terrorism, and malnutrition, only that these occur in a larger and slow intermittent period, measurable within a decade and amounting to a larger concerning number.

We will keep sharing more.

Quakeschool desk