Examination of Disaster Education Topics Included in Textbooks

Abstract

Minimizing the effects of disasters starts with creating disaster-resistant societies. Education is the key to creating a resilient society prepared for disasters. Textbooks are the primary materials used in education processes. For this reason, the research aims to examine primary school textbooks in terms of disaster education. In this regard, all textbooks taught at Doctor İffet Onur Primary School 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade levels in the 2023-2024 academic year were analyzed. The findings needed for the study were obtained using the document analysis method, one of the qualitative research methods. According to the findings obtained from the research, it has been determined that although the subject of disaster education is considered an interdisciplinary subject, this is not the case in practice. It has been determined that the subject of disaster education is limited only to Life Science and Social Studies courses. In the research, it was observed that there were distortions in disaster education at the class level in the textbooks examined. In addition, it has been determined that the textbooks mostly include earthquakes as a disaster topic at all grade levels, other types of disasters are given limited coverage, and disasters are handled in a one-dimensional manner. It has been determined that only natural disasters are included and human and technological disasters are not included. As a result of the research, it was determined that there were deficiencies in disaster education in primary school textbooks, more space should be given to disaster education, and suggestions on the subject were included.