Preventing through Sustainability Education: Training and the Perception of Floods among School Children

Álvaro-Francisco Morote () and Jorge Olcina
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Álvaro-Francisco Morote: Department of Experimental and Social Sciences Education, Faculty of Teaching Training, University of Valencia, Avda. Tarongers 4, 46022 Valencia, Spain
Jorge Olcina: Department of Regional Geographical Analysis and Physical Geography, University of Alicante, Carretera de Sant Vicent del Raspeig, s/n, 03080 Alicante, Spain

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 11, 1-15

Abstract: The global warming process is altering the atmospheric dynamics at mid-latitudes, fostering an increase in the frequency of extreme events. Of these events, floods are those that cause the greatest loss of human life and economic damage in Spain. Education is a key element in preventing these hazards. The objective of this study is to analyze the training, knowledge, and perception that school children (Primary and Secondary education, Baccalaureate) in the Region of Valencia (Spain) have of floods. The research was based on a questionnaire that was administered in different schools and in which 926 students participated. The main results show that only 36.1% have received training in these phenomena, and more than half (54.2%) do not know whether floods are explained in the textbooks. With respect to the perception of these risks, half of the respondents indicate that climate change is increasing the damage caused by floods, and 57.6% believe that it will accelerate them in the future. The study advances the knowledge necessary to establish learning contents and guidelines at the basic levels of education on natural hazards and disaster prevention.

Keywords: floods; climate change; sustainability; education; perception; prevention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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