Special Report. The Response of the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture to the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake
2. Restoration of Educational Facilities and improvement of Disaster Prevention Systems
After the implementation of emergency measures in the immediate post-earthquake period, the focus of attention shifted to reconstruction work in the disaster zone, including the restoration of educational facilities and the normalization of school education activities. On February 24 MESSC established the MESSC Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Reconstruction Countermeasures Headquarters under the leadership of the Permanent Vice-Minister, which began to do everything possible to carry out such measures.
The earthquake also highlighted the need to improve disaster preparedness, including the establishment of government-level rapid-response systems for the immediate post-disaster period, the improvement of public facilities' earthquake resistance, and the establishment of disaster prevention systems by the central and local governments. It was obvious that the educational sector would need to study such measures carefully, as well.
