Children will learn how to manage floods, and volcanic explosions, in an effort to prepare for the growing impact of its risk.
The plan was presented on Thursday, after a summer when forest fires claimed the lives of four people.
According to the Ministry of Education, the aim is to incorporate schools a program that will transmit “the necessary knowledge, skills, attitudes and values needed to address emergency situations in a safe and effective way”.
In addition to natural disasters and dangers, it will also cover chemical, industrial and nuclear accidents, as well as accidents associated with the transportation of dangerous materials.
According to more than 8 million children in 25,000 schools, this compulsory program will be followed by the use of videos, information and other media.
Kindergarten and elementary students will attend at least two hours of lessons, while older children will attend at least four hours. Spain’s autonomous regions will be able to adapt the lesson to the different dangers they face from time to time.
“Children aged three, four and five will learn to recognize an alarm and, as well as basic safety principles,” the ministry said in a statement. “Older children will learn to look for high ground in the event of flooding and to flee under an office if the Earth begins to tremble.”
According to the ministry, students will also be taught “the differences between useful information and misinformation in emergencies”.
Speaking at the start of the program at a school in the eastern-central city of Quenca, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said the goal is to prepare children and young people, and respond to situations as best as possible “that are clearly aggravated by the risk of climate change”.
