Disaster risk management insight on school emergency preparedness – A case study of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

Pupils constantly face risks as they spend most of their time in schools and become easy victims of natural hazards. It is also important for schools in countries like Pakistan where disaster preparedness is subject to a choice rather than a compulsory obligation to provide a robust disaster risk reduction (DRR). The current research employs a pragmatic approach, analyzing the disaster risk management insights on school emergency preparedness in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (namely, Peshawar, Charsadda, Nowshera, and Dera Ismail Khan) of Pakistan. Thematic analysis was used to organize the views and responses from interview data. 100 individuals with different roles (senior primary headteachers and teachers), across the twenty schools interviewed through semi-structured individual interviews. The current study identified recurrent responses, which enabled the development of six main themes included 1-alert; 2-emergency planning; 3-preparation measures/protective actions; 4-school building design for safety; 5-school planning for continuation; and 6-hazard education and training. The findings reveal that schools are still vulnerable to flood risk as disaster risk management measures were lowly implemented. The study calls for policymakers to design and upgrade current school buildings to ensure the appropriate protection of students and teachers in the event of disasters. The schools collaboratively develop emergency plans and scenarios, in conjunction with the local institutions and disaster response organizations to build resilience and self-efficacy in times of crisis. In addition to this, enable school authorities (including teachers and other staff) to enhance their professional development on emergency response and management and strategies for school-based disaster response and recovery.