Disaster Risk Reduction in School Curricula: Case Studies ... - Unicef

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Section 10.
Case 19:
The Case Studies
British Virgin Islands (synoptic case)
Overview
The British Virgin Islands offers an
example of nascent disaster risk reduction
curricular response that calls for joining
thinking and action by governmental
bodies if school students are to receive
a thorough disaster-related education.
Under its Comprehensive Disaster Management Strategy and
Programming Framework 2009-2013, the British Virgin Islands
Department of Disaster Management (DDM) makes a commitment
to ‘promoting the inclusion of disaster risk reduction
knowledge in relevant sections of school curricula at all levels’
(DDM, 2009, 20).
Thus far, however, DRR has only been integrated in primary
level Social Studies (grade 6) during the 2011-2012 school year
through the auspices of the Department of Education and is
expected to be a permanent addition in the years to come 91 .
Integration of DRR in the school curriculum has thus far been
limited to one term, introduced in January 2011 and developed.
In the ‘People, Places & Environments’ section of the programme
students are required to:
Identify changes to the landscape that are brought about
by natural conditions (wind, rain, landslide, hurricane,
earthquake, volcanic activities)
Identify practices that are harmful to the environment/
landscape
Identify the different forms of pollution (water, land, air)
Identify measures which can be taken to minimize or
eliminate such pollution
Distinguish between the concepts of ‘weather’ and
‘climate’
Identify climatic conditions that influence human activities
in the British Virgin Islands and the Caribbean
For its part, the Department of Disaster Management has
developed a range of resources for use at home or in the
classroom. These include:
Floods: Disaster Preparedness Activity Book for primary
grades 3 and 4, an informative, well-produced book with
activities for children (puzzles, crosswords) to help reinforce
the learning (DDM, undated, a)
Shake Rattle and Roll: Disaster Preparedness Activity Book
for ages 8 to 10 on earthquakes, also attractive and
informative with puzzles and quizzes (DDM, undated, b)
A series of cartoons books, the Alex and Jasmine series,
for use at home or in school to alert children aged 3 to 5 to
hazards and disaster preparedness, containing exercises
and activities (see, for example, DDM, undated, c)
Geological Hazards Activity Book for primary grade 4,
covering landslides, earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis
with puzzles and simple activities (DDM, 2006)
Geological Hazards: What You Should Know! A Handbook
for Secondary Schools, a beautifully presented and
illustrated book, strong on geological detail, with some
exercises. The book is described as ‘an innovative and
interactive tool for disaster preparedness’ but the interaction
is restricted to responding to questions (DDM, 2008).
In addition, the Department of Disaster Management has produced
a series of educational posters.
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Sheniah Armstrong-Davies, Planning Preparedness Manager, Department
of Disaster Management, British Virgin Islands to Fumiyo Kagawa,
4 November 2011.
Disaster Risk Reduction in School Curricula: Case Studies from Thirty Countries