Level of emergency preparedness of schools in mountainous region of Swat, Pakistan

Abstract

Pakistan is prone to several hydro metrological hazards especially floods and has experienced several catastrophic situations in previous years which caused severe damage to infrastructure (including schools) in the affected areas. In Pakistan, preparatory and safety measures at school level are somehow ignored. It is the responsibility of the schools to keep the students safe and protected in any emergency situation. This infers the necessity to provide a safe and sound environment to students, as to decrease the negative impacts of disasters and increase the capacity of schools. The objective of the study is to assess the preparedness level of schools in the mountainous region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. The study explored the preparedness level of 47 schools from three union councils which have been recently hit hard by floods. The data was collected through a structured closed-ended dichotomous questionnaire (n=134) using a multi-stage sampling technique. The study is based on the four pillars of disaster preparedness i.e. emergency planning, preparation measures, hazard education and training, and safe school facilities. The findings exposed that majority of the schools are not adopting proper preparedness measures. There is no planning and maps for evacuation in majority of schools, lack of equipment and resources in many schools, lack of communication among schools, lack of alternative school sites in majority of schools, and a very small number of teachers are trained. It is concluded from the study that the level of preparedness is very low in primary schools of mountainous region of KP.