Disaster-affected countries and education solutions

After the devastating destruction inflicted on many cities, towns and villages, especially in Pazardzhik, the epicenter of the earthquake that hit Kahramanmarash around 04:00 on Monday, February 6, various campaigns were launched to raise funds for search and rescue efforts and send aid to respective regions. While rescue and support work continued, various decisions were made to continue training at different levels, first in the regions affected by the earthquake, and then throughout Turkey. The decisions made made us think about the following question: which countries continued education after the great disasters?

The first country that comes to mind when natural disasters are mentioned. Japanafter that America, Haiti, Sri Lanka and Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi It is known that, despite all the difficulties, educational activities continued even during the great disasters in the past. Even if students were not physically in the school environment, they were able to continue learning without interruption or continued to attend schools with different physical placements.

Global examples of post-disaster education

So, what steps have countries taken and what have they done to ensure that the education system is not interrupted after these great disasters? Examples from around the world are as follows:

Japan: During the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in Japan, many schools and educational institutions were affected, but the Japanese education system was quickly restored and resumed its educational activities. After a magnitude 9.0 earthquake that killed 19,759 people and left 2,553 missing, to continue education mabundance of school was used and students were given the opportunity to study without interruption. In addition, after the 1945 atomic bombing disaster, students in Hiroshima continued their lessons in the presence of teachers under all physically possible conditions. outdoor lessons was established, and thousands of educational volunteers rushed to support the region.

Sri Lanka: After the 2004 tsunami, which occurred after a 9.1-9.3 earthquake, more than 30,000 people died in Sri Lanka. government and international charities they made great efforts to start learning activities with quick cooperation. Thanks to the mobile school approach, educational and training activities continued in every region affected by the tsunami.

America: Universities are known to make various decisions so as not to interrupt education during the big hurricanes that happen from time to time in different states of America. During Hurricane Katrina, which killed 1,836 people in 2005, at a speed of 160 km/h, students at Tulane University Possibility to temporarily study and stay at different universities presented. Similarly, during Hurricane Harvey in 2017, the University of Houston tried to ensure that students were physically present at the school. He is known to quickly repair damaged buildings and equipment.

Haiti: After the 2010 magnitude 7.0 earthquake in Haiti, which killed between 50,000 and 100,000 people, educational activities continued thanks to the efforts of the Haitian government and international relief organizations. Training events were held in emergency shelters, volunteers rushed to the rescue. Special tents for training camps installed and continuation of educational activities, with government priority international assistance This was the critical part.

However, despite the fact that more than 10 years have passed, the education system has still not reached the desired level in Haiti, which has not been able to recover from the effects of this devastating earthquake. The fact that the country has not been able to complete its economic and social development also contributes to the emergence of this situation, and the Haitian government continues to revive, improve and develop education with the support of international organizations. continues to work to invest in the future of the country.

Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi: In 2019 by the United Nations”one of the deadliest storms recorded in the southern hemisphereCyclone Idai, known as Idai, which killed more than 1,500 people and killed many more, hit southeast Africa, causing massive destruction and flooding in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi. And after this great catastrophe, education was seriously affected. Created with the support of international aid organizationsemergency learning aid packageThanks to this, a large number of students were provided with education.

Thanks to Yasmine Sheriff, director of education at Education Cannot Wait, who provided most of the aid, for the educational support provided during this disaster. “For a child or teenager, loss is especially devastating. If educational services are not prioritized, the suffering will be prolonged and lead to deeper deterioration and trauma in their lives.” was also recorded. In addition to helping with education, UNICEF is also working through Save the Children to further help students. psychosocial support continued its efforts to alleviate the burden of this scourge in 2019 on children, youth and education. All these examples around the world, despite the scale of disasters and the damage they caused, continued their educational activities, taking education as a priority.

What can be done to preserve the education system after natural disasters and disasters?

The above examples contain important details that show that a country’s education system can continue to function even after major natural disasters. Although the situation in each country and the consequences of natural disaster and natural disaster are different, it is possible to ensure the continuation of educational activities by applying various methods based on these examples. These; mobile schools, street classes, training in shelters, educational assistance from international organizations, government support and online learning Maybe. Countries may use mobile schools if schools in regions are damaged or it is not possible to provide on-site training. Educational activities can be continued in emergency shelters opened after a natural disaster; Volunteer teachers, educators, scientists can provide assistance and guidance in this regard. Educational work can be supported by providing suitable conditions and materials for educational work with government support and funds from international aid organizations. On the other side, Where the technological infrastructure is sufficient and accessible to everyoneHowever, there is a need to ensure that realistic and workable solutions are offered to provide Internet access to students in areas prone to earthquakes, natural disasters or other disasters. And according to experts It should not be overlooked that the cohabitation of students creates a strong support both socially and psychologically..

Opinions of world famous experts in the field of education

World renowned educational experts and scholars, Resilience of educational programs after natural disasters They draw attention to the importance of children and young people not getting in the way of their future education and employment opportunities. Continuing education after disasters, according to Sarah Dryden-Peterson, professor of education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. in the lives of children and families. constructive and important; Therefore, education must continue under any circumstances. According to Priscilla Little of Duke University, after major disasters and natural disasters. structure and implement training programs very quickly It is very important. According to World Vision, a social care organization working to ensure that all children around the world have the best opportunities and access to social support, food, clean water and education, education is one of the most important issues to prioritize in response. for a natural disaster. ; because ‘emergency educationA serious budget should be allocated for the aid package. Because, as World Vision emphasizes, education This is a life saving intervention. By providing a safe place for children to learn and play, they protect them from negative situations such as abuse, exploitation and “Ensuring the continuity of education in emergencies significantly reduces the social, economic costs and physical, emotional and psychosocial impact on children.” According to education experts, continuing to educate students after disasters helps them recover physically, emotionally and spiritually, helps them stay strong and hopeful. Education is the basis of individual and social improvement, development and growth.

Finally, according to experts a tool that helps education normalize, facilitate and survive life for people of all ages. should also be taken into account. For these reasons, it is critical that countries continue to educate students of all ages after major natural disasters. and this is a great investment in the future of the country. Providing all students in the country with the opportunity to receive education after natural disasters, contributes to the future development of the country. In addition to all these steps, since every disaster and every country is different, it is necessary to restart and continue the education system. individual solutions are required. should not be forgotten either.

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Sources: japanfs.org, unesco.org, worldbank.org, royalsocietypublishing.org, Reliefweb.int, hiroshimapeacemedia, wikipedia, worldvision.org.