Impact of a Disaster Educational Program on Knowledge and Practices of Teachers among Primary Governmental Schools, Cairo Governorate

Abstract

Disaster is an extreme event that causes loss of life, property, essential services and means of livelihood. Aim of this study; was to assess the impact of a disaster educational program on knowledge and practices of teachers. Research design; A (pre-post) quasi-experimental design was adopted in this research. Setting; the study was conducted at three primary governmental schools in Cairo governorate. Three educational departments were assigned randomly from total thirty two departments. One school from each educational department was selected randomly (3 schools). These schools were El-Sayida Sakina, Ahmed Lotfy El-Said and El-Kasr Elaini primary governmental schools. The study sample; consisted of 50 teachers were included from three selected school in the research. Teachers number was; 17 teachers in El-Sayida Sakina School, 18 teachers in Ahmed Lotfy El-Said school and 15 in El-Kasr Elaini. Tools for data collection; three tools were used in this study; 1) Demographic characteristics for teachers; 2) Pre/ post knowledge questionnaire sheet. 3) Pre/post observational checklist. Study results; results revealed that, 70 % of teachers were females, 54% aged from 35-55 years.  Nearly all teachers (94%) didn't have any experience in disaster management before the educational program compared to less than half (42%) of the teachers who had unsatisfactory knowledge about disaster management. While 96%, 100% respectively had good knowledge scores about disaster management immediately and 2 months after the educational program. Regarding to teacher's practices, 100% and 84% had good practice scores immediately and 2 months after the educational program respectively while 90% had unsatisfactory practice scores about disaster management before the educational program. A highly statistically significance differences were found between all practice subscales about dealing with injured personnel in disaster among teachers before, immediately and 2 months after the educational program.  The study concluded that, educational program implicated changes in teaches' knowledge, and practices regarding disaster management in primary governmental schools. The study recommended periodic training programs for teachers in primary governmental schools

Key words: Teachers, disaster management, primary governmental school.