Elementary school teachers who work at the slopes of Mt. Merapi in Yogyakarta have been selected to participate in a workshop related to volcanic disaster mitigation in Japan.
Headmaster of SDN Kepuharjo, Ramelam, Headmaster of SDN Gungan, Yohanes Tukul Jumadi, and Headmaster of SDN Srunen, Pairan were invited by UGM and Mt. Fuji Research Institute (MFRI) to take part in volcanic disaster mitigation at Mt. Fuji in Yamanashi, Japan with JICA funding.
Led by lecturer, Dr.rer.nat Ade Anggraini, they did the workshop at Katsuyama elementary school, Kawaguchiko city on 26 June 2019. They had the opportunity to see the class on Mt. Fuji which taught the school children the eruptions and danger potential of Mt. Fuji, using 3D disaster maps.
Mt. Fuji issue has been included in the local curriculum of Kawaguchiko city. The curriculum is devised for elementary and secondary schools situated at the slopes of the mountain. Lower graders are introduced to the nature of Mt. Fuji while higher graders disaster introduction and mitigation.
Ade said the three headmasters also shared the experience of witnessing Mt. Merapi eruption in 2010 and phreatic eruptions in 2018 with workshop participants.
“For the Japanese people, the Mt. Merapi eruption in 2010 that destroyed Cangkringan district and sudden phreatic eruption in 2018 without warning had become a huge reference,” she said in a release received on Tuesday (2/7).
Reportedly, the last eruption of Mt. Fuji took place 312 years ago or in 1707. Socialisation of volcanic disaster mitigation, however, is done every year at elementary schools located around Mt. Fuji.
“Through the workshop both schools in Mt. Merapi and Mt. Fuji can instill the spirit of disaster awareness and prepare mitigation to deal with eruptions that can strike any time,” she concluded.