Home > Policy > White Paper, Notice, Announcement > White Paper > JAPANESE GOVERNMENT POLICIESIN EDUCATION, SCIENCE, SPORTSAND CULTURE1998 > MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH AND SPORTS CHAPTER2 SECTION6 2

MESSC inaugurated a"Consultative Committee for Research and Surveys Regarding the Enhancement of Disaster Prevention in Schools"in June1995,in order to carry out study and research for measures to enhance the role of schools during major earthquakes and other disasters,and disaster prevention systems and disaster prevention education for schools and boards of education.The following proposals of the meeting were made in tbe first report in November1995:1)measures to ensure student safety,2)the enhancement of disaster prevention education,3)the establishment of scbool facilities in response to the role of schools during disasters,4)the enhancement of information and communication systems during disasters,5)the role of teachers during disasters,and6)action taken towards the resumption of school activities.In addition,detailed investigations were made and the following were presented in the second report in September1996:1)guidelines for projects concerning disaster prevention in schools,2)guidelines for the enhancement of disaster prevention education,and3)guidelines for teacher manuals for the safety of students.In this report,the following were proposed concerning disaster prevention education:1)organization of contents of instruction for disaster prevention education,2)creation of instruction plans,3)creation and use of supplemental textbooks and audiovisual teaching materials,4)promotion of disaster prevention education in the community,and5)implementation of teacher training.In response to these reports,MESSC held disaster prevention education and training seminars concerning mental health in relation to disasters.It also produced educational films on disaster prevention for kindergartens,elementary,lower and upper secondary schools respectively,as works designated by MESSC as teaching materials,and distributed the films to audiovisual libraries in each prefecture.In FY1997'disaster prevention reference material for teachers and disaster prevention educational materials(pamphlets)for upper secondary school students were prepared and distributed to all upper secondary schools.In FY1998,disaster prevention educational materials(pamphlets)for lower secondary school students will be prepared and distributed to lower secondary schools.In addition,the July1998report of the Curriculum Council indicated that the ensuring of safety in case of a natural disaster should be emphasized in Health and Physical Education classes(health-related areas)in lower secondary schools,and Courses of Study will be revised to enhance disaster prevention education.