Teachers Training at Toba Elementary School: Preparing for a Megathrust Earthquake [Toba/Japan]
SEEDS Asia is partnering with Toba Elementary School in Mie Prefecture, Japan, since teachers of the said school and SEEDS Asia met in a teachers’ training program on DRR in 2019. The Program is coordinated by SEEDS Asia’s board member and Associate Professor at Nara University of Education, Dr Oikawa. Toba Elementary School is promoting “Tobakko (children of Toba) Learning: Connecting Lives, Connecting Toba” to build sustainable society and be prepared for a megathrust earthquake and tsunami which may occur along the abundant ocean that also brings resources.
Since 2021, Technical Advisor of SEEDS Asia and Specially Pointed Professor Ranko Kishida (a previous principal of Takakura Elementary School, Kyoto City) have joined as a facilitator for sustainable curriculum management training.
On 8th February, 2024, open class of a Grade 6 session in partnership with School Operating Committee (Community-School) was held, where students analyzed data on tourists and exchanged opinions about how to solve challenges found in the data. The students looked very confident in what they did, and this seemed to be an outcome of a series of learning they had engaged in.
After the class, teachers engaged in a review through group discussions and presentations. This was followed by Prof. Kishida’s training on enhanced curriculum management, particularly designing learning units based on performance topics. Executive Director of SEEDS Asia then shared the questionnaire result from the My Hometown event held earlier the year which students of Toba Elementary School participated in. Characteristics of answers given by Tobakko were also shared.
After the training, observation of the evacuation routes for school students/staff took place, due to the fact that locally issued hazard maps have limitations in terms of actual scenarios. Various resources were used, including topography and how the school environment has come to be, and the need for further review for safer routes was identified. SEEDS Asia hope that we can contribute to the promotion of DRR education and disaster management of the school and thank the school for allowing us to be part of the crucial role of the school in nurturing sustainability in future leaders.
