|
| |||
|
With thousands of teachers missing or killed, tens of thousands of children dead, and schools destroyed, the tsunami has devastated Indian Ocean coastal communities—and its education system—in a way that is hard to fathom.
A delegation from Education International (EI) visited Aceh in Indonesia and Sri Lanka in January to meet with trade unions and assess the needs of the communities affected by the tsunami. It was also able to provide immediate financial assistance on site to teachers in the refugee camps.
EI has launched a Tsunami Relief Appeal to help rebuild and re-equip schools and teachers' homes and to contribute to the reconstruction of the lives and livelihoods of the local people.
According to EI, the devastation has been so complete in some areas in Aceh, Indonesia, that all teachers and students from some schools have been killed. At least 2,000 teachers and 45,000 children have been killed or are missing. More than 750 school buildings have been destroyed.
As a result, more than 140,000 primary school students and 20,000 high school students have nowhere to study. According to EI, the government is sending 1,000 teachers from the province—and 200 tents—to run classes in 95 tent schools near the refugee camps.
In Sri Lanka, the total death toll is also unclear, but more than 80,000 children and 3,000 teachers are now displaced, according to education ministry figures. Fifty-nine schools were totally destroyed, and 110 schools were damaged with all school furniture and equipment lost.
EI also wants to help fund trauma counselling for surviving teachers and students, says General Secretary Fred Van Leeuwen. Getting children back to school is important to help them overcome their traumas and recreate 'normality'. But many teachers—including those who have lost their family and home in the tsunami—are too traumatised to go back to work yet, he says.
While the primary focus of the EI appeal is rebuilding schools and teachers' homes, other initiatives include scholarships for orphans and assistance to local families adopting orphans, and vocational education programs. The EI will also be assisting local unions in the fight against the erosion of workers' rights and exploitation of adult and child workers.
Krista Mogensen is a freelance writer.
The AEU Federal Conference has called on staff in preschools, schools, TAFE Institutes and other workplaces to donate half a day's pay to help rebuild education infrastructure in tsunami-ravaged countries.
The Conference asked teachers and students to participate in a half day of activities in a nominated Tsunami Education Action Week last month aimed at raising awareness of the impact on education of the tsunami, and to raise funds to assist in the rebuilding of education.
The AEU has also asked its own employees to contribute half a day's pay and will match the amount contributed, in a donation to the APHEDA Tsunami Fund.
In addition the AEU International Trust Fund will contribute $30,000 from the ITF Emergency Fund to the EI Tsunami Fund. This campaign could raise many millions of dollars for the relief effort.
The overseas aid arm of the Australian trade union movement, Union Aid Abroad—APHEDA, is also running an appeal for tsunami victims in Sri Lanka and Aceh, Indonesia. In Aceh, the donations are contributing to the International Union of Foodworkers' initiatives in water sanitation and providing treatment and vaccinations at mobile medical clinics. In Sri Lanka, donations are going to APHEDA sister organisation Norwegian Peoples Aid (NPA) to support the transit camps that will house 450 families while reconstruction takes place.
How you can donate
Mail: Post a cheque made out to APHEDA Inc and marked “Tsunami Appeal” to Union Aid Abroad—APHEDA, Level 3, 377 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000.
Cheques can be made out to: “The AEU Federal Office: Tsunami fund” and sent to:
|
|| About || Campaigns || Debates || Early Childhood || Environment Action || Feedback || FEUIC || Human Rights || Indigenous Education ||
|| Industrial || International Development || Join || Media || Policy || Principals || Publications || Search || TAFE || What's New || Women ||
Copyright
© 2012 Australian Education Union
- Federal Office
120 Clarendon Street, Southbank, Victoria, Australia 3006
Ph: +61 3 9693 1800 Fax: +61 3 9693 1805
Email: aeu@aeufederal.org.au