Kobe Earthquake Students Psychological Care to End
Psychological care to end for students
The Hyogo prefectural board of education will no longer assign teachers, specializing in the psychological care of children affected by the Great Hanshin Earthquake, to primary and middle schools in the prefecture after fiscal 2004 ends on March 31.
Concern has been expressed over the decision as some students are still struggling with psychological problems brought on by the quake.
The decision was made due to the board's financial difficulties. Other teachers will try to fill the roles of the specialists, although 1,337 students in the prefecture still need some special psychological care, according to a survey conducted last year.
The teachers specializing in psychological care have been posted to schools in six cities and two towns in the prefecture since fiscal 1995. From fiscal 1996 to 2000, 207 teachers were assigned. Since fiscal 2001, the teachers have been gradually reduced. Fifty-five teachers are currently active.
... According to last year's survey, five students said they had been buried alive in the earthquake, and 10 students said they had problems related to the earthquake.
The teacher said that although some of their problems appeared to have been resolved, the students had not completely overcome their psychological trouble.
One primary school teacher is worried that his students will suffer flashbacks of the earthquake because of video footage of the recent Indian Ocean tsunami.
A total of 224 primary and middle school students suffered flashbacks after an earthquake in the western part of Tottori Prefecture in October 2000 and an earthquake in Hiroshima and Ehime prefectures in March 2001.
He said, "I believe parents will worry once the specialized teachers end their work."
Yomiuri Shimbun, January, 15 2005
The Hyogo prefectural board of education will no longer assign teachers, specializing in the psychological care of children affected by the Great Hanshin Earthquake, to primary and middle schools in the prefecture after fiscal 2004 ends on March 31.
Concern has been expressed over the decision as some students are still struggling with psychological problems brought on by the quake.
The decision was made due to the board's financial difficulties. Other teachers will try to fill the roles of the specialists, although 1,337 students in the prefecture still need some special psychological care, according to a survey conducted last year.
The teachers specializing in psychological care have been posted to schools in six cities and two towns in the prefecture since fiscal 1995. From fiscal 1996 to 2000, 207 teachers were assigned. Since fiscal 2001, the teachers have been gradually reduced. Fifty-five teachers are currently active.
... According to last year's survey, five students said they had been buried alive in the earthquake, and 10 students said they had problems related to the earthquake.
The teacher said that although some of their problems appeared to have been resolved, the students had not completely overcome their psychological trouble.
One primary school teacher is worried that his students will suffer flashbacks of the earthquake because of video footage of the recent Indian Ocean tsunami.
A total of 224 primary and middle school students suffered flashbacks after an earthquake in the western part of Tottori Prefecture in October 2000 and an earthquake in Hiroshima and Ehime prefectures in March 2001.
He said, "I believe parents will worry once the specialized teachers end their work."
Yomiuri Shimbun, January, 15 2005
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