## Promoting improvement in earthquake resistance of public school facilities

In recent years, some school buildings have suffered partial destruction or serious damage caused by powerful earthquakes such as the Niigata-Chuetsu earthquake in October 2004, that off the western coast of Fukuoka Prefecture in March 2005, that in the Noto Peninsula in March 2007 and that off the coast of Niigata Prefecture in July 2007.

School facilities are not only places where schoolchildren spend almost all day; they also serve as temporary evacuation centers for local residents in case of earthquakes and other disasters. Therefore, to improve earthquake resistance is urgent issue so as to ensure the safety of these facilities.

However, according to a survey conducted by MEXT in April 2007, less than 60% of public elementary and junior high school (including the first half of secondary school) facilities were earthquake resistant. And also there were large regional gaps in the progress in improving earthquake resistance (Fig. 1 and Fig. 2). Furthermore, this survey also revealed there was still certain a percentage of facilities which would have a high risk of collapse if an earthquake with an intensity of 6 Upper or more powerful occurs.

###### (See http://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/houdou/19/06/07060507/002/001.htm)

MEXT has provided state subsidies to cover the expenses for projects to improve earthquake resistance implemented by local governments such as expenses for reconstruction, seismic reinforcement, and seismic diagnosis which are a prerequisite for improving earthquake resistance. In 2006, with a view to expanding the range of discretion of local governments and promoting efficient improvement of facilities, MEXT established the Grants to Create Safe and Secure Schools.

In addition, MEXT has expanded the financial support to promote improvement in earthquake resistance. For instance, the state subsidy proportions for reconstruction and seismic reinforcement based on the laws concerning seismic disaster prevention measures have been increased (Fig.3). From 2007, regarding seismic reinforcement carried out in accordance with the Special Measures Law on Earthquake Disaster Prevention, local allocation tax measures that had been restricted to certain regions had extended to the whole country, which considerably reduced the financial burden of local governments.

A pillar of a school building cracked by the Niigata-Chuetsu Earthquake. (Ojiya City, Niigata Prefecture)

In April 2007, a council of advisers inspected the factors which were necessary to promote improvement in earthquake resistance and published their results of the inspection in August 2007. (To settle on The Plan to Promote Improvement Earthquake Resistance of Public Schools Facilities, the report by the Consultative Committee for Setting Guidelines on School Facility Improvement)

A Ceiling of a gymnasium collapsed partially due to the Niigata-Chuetsu Earthquake

(Uonuma City, Niigata Prefecture)

(See http://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/houdou/19/08/07081403). The report stated, based on its final goal of making all school facilities earthquake resistant, MEXT and local governments needed to settle on the 5-year long plan to promote improvement in earthquake resistance beginning in 2008. It also stated that improving earthquake resistance of facilities with a value of Is * of below 0.3 was the highest priority. Furthermore, based on situations and damages from earthquakes in the past in each

Appearance of a school building reinforced to resist earthquakes

(Tokamachi City, Niigata Prefecture)

region, it also pointed out that local governments needed to improve earthquake resistance of facilities with a value of Is of below 0.4 as much as possible.

MEXT plans to settle on the Plan to Promote Improvement the Earthquake Resistance of Public School Facilities based on this report.