Monument and Lesson for Disaster Preparedness

This is one of the tsunami monument built in the school yard of SMP 12 Banda Aceh. This number 41 monument, is one of 85 tsunami poles built by Japanese governemnt through the Abasiyah foundation.

Like other tsunami monuments, it was built as a medium to commemorate the tragedy of eartquake and tsunami in 24 December 2004.

This monument is also aimed to remind people about the need for preparedness to anticipate the potential of tsunami in the future, as written on the monument.

This monument was built to commemorate those who have died from the tsunami. Also as a warning especially for students to always be prepared and alert for the possibility of earthquake and tsunami in the future.

Unfortunately, monument is just a monument. Even for the school where the monument's built.

Until now, the schools have no any emergency response plans, no training or disaster education for both students and teachers. No serious initiatives or serious efforts made to ensure the safety of students and teachers.

Disasters, the policies to reduce its potential risks and to ensure the safety of students and teachers are not yet a priority issue in education. Even for Aceh that had felt the devastating impact of the earthquake and tsunami 2004. Although experts are also always reminded about the potential to another earthquake and tsunami.

So, for what monument built?