5:30 PM - 5:45 PM
[S23-2-04] Adapting the disaster knowledge for the local context – Practices of Tsunami disaster education in Zihuatanejo city, Mexico
1. Introduction
Disaster education held at school is often given by experts such as researchers (so-called outsiders). On the other hand, the educational contents need to fit with the local context. Because decontextualized education risked learners as, for example, responding earthquake with “drop-cover-hold" was not necessarily adequate under the circumstances of vulnerable buildings of Nepal. Hence, this study analyzes the process of adapting the knowledge given by the author (as expert) for the locality, through the tsunami disaster education for school teachers in two schools of Zihuatanejo city, Mexico.
2. Background of the study area
Zihuatanejo in the west coast of Mexico was historically affected by tsunamis due to the subduction zone known as Guerrero gap. Thus, local administration requested schools to plan for tsunami evacuation. However, the measures were not taken. In this study, two schools which were located in potential tsunami inundation zone were selected and the author intervened to facilitate the evacuation planning.
3. Contents of the education
Two seminars were given to each school. First seminar was to explain the mechanism of earthquake and tsunami and their histories in Zihuatanejo. Second seminar adopted workshop style. Firstly, basics of designing the evacuation route such as “less possibility of road blockage after earthquake" was explained and workshop was held dividing teachers into small groups. Teachers discussed the appropriate evacuation route and shared among teachers afterwards.
4. Analysis and conclusion
Discussed route by teachers were quicker to evacuate and less risk of blockage than the routes which local administration indicated in both schools. Moreover, one school implemented tsunami evacuation drill by teachers' initiatives. Through the observation of workshops, teachers connected the knowledge from expert with the knowledge from local community. This resulted in designing the evacuation route which fit with local context.
Disaster education held at school is often given by experts such as researchers (so-called outsiders). On the other hand, the educational contents need to fit with the local context. Because decontextualized education risked learners as, for example, responding earthquake with “drop-cover-hold" was not necessarily adequate under the circumstances of vulnerable buildings of Nepal. Hence, this study analyzes the process of adapting the knowledge given by the author (as expert) for the locality, through the tsunami disaster education for school teachers in two schools of Zihuatanejo city, Mexico.
2. Background of the study area
Zihuatanejo in the west coast of Mexico was historically affected by tsunamis due to the subduction zone known as Guerrero gap. Thus, local administration requested schools to plan for tsunami evacuation. However, the measures were not taken. In this study, two schools which were located in potential tsunami inundation zone were selected and the author intervened to facilitate the evacuation planning.
3. Contents of the education
Two seminars were given to each school. First seminar was to explain the mechanism of earthquake and tsunami and their histories in Zihuatanejo. Second seminar adopted workshop style. Firstly, basics of designing the evacuation route such as “less possibility of road blockage after earthquake" was explained and workshop was held dividing teachers into small groups. Teachers discussed the appropriate evacuation route and shared among teachers afterwards.
4. Analysis and conclusion
Discussed route by teachers were quicker to evacuate and less risk of blockage than the routes which local administration indicated in both schools. Moreover, one school implemented tsunami evacuation drill by teachers' initiatives. Through the observation of workshops, teachers connected the knowledge from expert with the knowledge from local community. This resulted in designing the evacuation route which fit with local context.