A policy review: are disaster safe schools in Pekalongan Regency necessary?

Abstract

Floods, tidal floods, droughts, and landslides have caused huge material and immaterial losses in Pekalongan Regency. The disaster also had an impact on the education sector. This study aims to determine the need for disaster-safe schools in Pekalongan Regency. This research is a literature study involving book literature, journal articles, news, ministry data reports, government policies, laws, and regulations regarding disaster risk reduction in schools. The results found that around 80% of primary and secondary schools in Pekalongan Regency are located in disaster risk areas. There have been several disaster events that have had a direct impact on schools. The Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) policy in schools on a global, national and regional scale has been ratified as a guideline for creating a sense of safety in schools. One of the policies of the Indonesian government is the SPAB (Disaster Safe Education Unit) program. The SPAB program offers guidelines for protecting education units against disasters. However, the program implementation needs financial support from the local government. Schools should be involved in DRR actions. The urgency of the SPAB program is very clear to be implemented in Pekalongan Regency.

Knowledge of disaster safe education at landslide-prone schools in Tawangmangu, Indonesia

“…Disaster education instilled in students from an early age will increase knowledge related to disaster mitigation, perspective on disasters and build a nation that is resilient to disasters [27]. Efforts to reduce disaster risk in schools can be carried out by strengthening knowledge, attitudes and actions among all school members [28]. A resilient and safe educational environment will make a significant contribution to children's mental wellbeing and provide a foundation for them to become active agents in society [29].…”

“…This can start from educating the younger generation and extend to their families as a larger community [19]. Indonesian society's knowledge of disasters is generally still low because disaster education has not been included in the education curriculum in Indonesia [27], [32]. Disaster mitigation knowledge is very necessary to increase individual capacity in dealing with disasters so as to minimize vulnerability.…”