Disaster Education in Elementary School Curriculum: Basis for Framework Designing

Abstract

This research aimed to develop a school curriculum framework for disaster education in elementary schools. This is a qualitative-phenomenological study that examines how elementary school teachers teach disaster education to their students. Data was gathered through the use of guided interview questions, and the conduct of in-depth interviews. Based on the result of the study, the researchers captured the key experiences of the teachers and the most common approaches being utilized to disaster education in elementary schools, which include the integration of disaster-related themes and topics into specific school subjects, particularly in Science, Health, Araling Panlipunan, and Edukasyon sa Pagpapakatao, disaster advocacy campaign through the use of various digital and online platforms, and social media, training and seminars to pupils on how to respond to disasters through the conduct of drills, utilization of safety equipment, evacuation and rescue procedure, first-aid training and the like, and instilling pro-active attitude and discipline of the learners in responding to disasters. Moreover, with reference to this study, a school curriculum framework on disaster education was developed, which will serve as the guiding tool for all disaster education efforts at the school level, congruent with DepEd's education targets in the context of elementary schools’ safety and disaster resilience, as well as school disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) programs, projects, and activities.