An expert in disaster risk reduction says work to safeguard schools in Fiji is making progress.
Save the Children's Marla Petal has worked for many years, in many countries, as a technical advisor in education and disaster risk reduction.
Seven people died in Nasau Village, Koro Island, Fiji during Cyclone Winston which hit in February 2016 Photo: Supplied/Fiji Red Cross
Ms Petal said she focusses on assessment, mitigation and being prepared to respond.
She has worked around the world and in the Pacific and has done work with schools in Fiji.
Ms Petal said one key aim is to try and ensure continuity of classes, so students lives are not interrupted by disaster events on a regular basis.
"We have been working with the Education Management Safety System to build in a school safety self assessment process that is going to be a two way communication," Ms Petal said.
"So rather than just collecting data from the schools the moment that they have submitted their information about their hazards and what they have done to reduce their risks, they get a report back giving them recommendations on what they could improve on and how to do it."
Listen to the full interview with Marla Petal on Dateline Pacific.
