Japan Govt Releases Guidebook for Flood Disaster Education

June 27, 2018

Tokyo- The Japanese land ministry has released an evacuation drill guidebook for teachers so children can learn about flood disasters from an early stage at elementary schools.

The ministry drew up the guidebook considering the limited time to teach disaster prevention programs at schools despite the growing need for such education after frequent heavy rains and typhoons in recent years.

The 40-page guidebook is designed to connect disaster drills with what children learn at science and other classes to enhance their understanding of flood disasters.

The guidebook shows four patterns of evacuation so drills can be carried out in accordance with risks distinctive to each region and school area.

The patterns include running to higher places if the second floor of a school building is expected to be flooded, and standing by at schools if the buildings are located outside expected flood areas.

The book shows photographs of actual drills and timelines, allowing even teachers without experience in such activities to carry out flood disaster drills easily.

Children can deepen their knowledge about flood disasters more effectively if they learn about the geography of Japan and the water cycle at classes before or after such drills, a ministry official said.

The book introduces different study programs to fit each educational level--lower, middle, fifth and sixth grade. Also shown are examples of additional teaching materials.

The guidebook can be downloaded free at a ministry website set up in March to support disaster prevention education. Jiji Press