ISEC 10


MODEL DISASTER PREVENTION LESSONS IN PRIMARY SCHOOL BASED ON DISASTER PREVENTION EDUCATION POLICIES

NORIKO IMURA, TAKASHIGE ISHIKAWA


Abstract

This study deals with disaster mitigation education in primary schools and as a final goal aims to improve citizens’ capabilities to mitigate disaster situations in society. This report summarizes the current national policy on safety education in Japan and follow it up with a summarization of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government policy, which is based on the national policy. In addition, it compares Japan’s education policy with that of New Zealand. Analysis revealed the following three points. First, the content of safety education in Japanese primary schools consists of six fields (traffic safety, daily life safety, disaster safety, etc.). Just before, and after, the Great Tohoku Earthquake in 2011, the main educational content changed from daily life safety to disaster safety. Second, by focusing on lessons, it was found that the content of disaster safety was taught not as part of various subjects but largely during “homeroom activities”. Third, it became clear that the subject of earthquakes now accounts for half of the disaster prevention lesson contents in Japanese primary schools and has been included in disaster prevention lesson contents in all school grades.

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