The New Trend of Disaster Mitigation Education in Japan

3-3 Three Factors of Disaster Mitigation Education

Now the focus of the disaster mitigation is sifting, as I have mentioned, from "emergency management" to "preparedness." The focus of the education also needs to shift in this direction. The simple but ultimate goal of the disaster mitigation education is to raise the citizens with the capacity to cope with the disasters not only during and after the disaster but also before the disaster. Then, what skills and abilities do the citizens need to gain? The answer is very simple. The important factors are the fundamental knowledge, the fundamental skills and the strong will.

The Educational Board of Hyogo Prefecture started a new type of disaster mitigation education after Kobe Earthquake. The main objective is to let the children notice the importance of human lives and cooperation among people. The children are expected not only to master the necessary skills and get the knowledge to cope with the disasters but also to obtain the strong will to contribute to the society. They are also expected to think how to be and live in this complicated and fragile society. (Chart 1).

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3-4 Maiko High School Environment and Disaster Mitigation Course

Disasters take place when the natural environment and the social environment overlap. A typhoon in the middle of the Pacific Ocean is, for example, not a disaster but a natural phenomenon because there is no social community which is damaged or affected. Disasters take place when a social community is damaged or affected by a natural phenomenon. It is obvious that the vulnerability of the community is crucial to the degree of the disaster. (Chart 2) Think of the earthquake, for example, which recently took place in Iran, Afghanistan, and India. This is why we pay attention to both environments in our curriculum. This means that to learn something about both environments, which are equal to almost everything we learn at school, have something to do with the disaster mitigation.

From there points of view, we set three educational concept.

1. The education of disaster mitigation is based on the lessons of Kobe Earthquake. It makes the students think of the importance of life, cultivates the students' power against disasters, and brings up the human beings who can contribute to our society.
2. The students are expected to understand deeply about the various environments (the natural environment and the social environment) by learning the mechanism of the natural phenomenon and the relationship between disasters and human society.
3. We cooperate with universities, research institutes and coherent organizations. Students' understanding of the environment and disaster mitigation is deepened through the experience learning. To raise the students' attitude to "Think Globally, Act Locally" is one of the main goals to attain. We aim to bring up the individuals who can take actions independently.

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(2006.6.1)