Eureka! Institutional Repository

The present study investigates the views of Western Thessaloniki secondary education teacherson the subject of management of crises at schools after the occurance of natural disasters. The main objectives are to investigate the teachers’ opinions aboutwhether schools are safe for pupils and teachers, the level of training of the participants, the degree of readiness of the schools and the prospects for a return to the pre-crisis state. As the question is not "Whether will a natural disaster occur" but "When will a natural disaster occur" (Brock 2013) it is imperative to investigate the level of preparedness of school units for proper crisis management and recovery as well as the degree of teacher training. For this purpose, a survey was carried out involving 135 teachers serving in secondary schools in Western Thessaloniki. The tool used is a questionnaire adapted from other researcherssimilar questionnaires and therefore valid. The results of the survey seem to indicate that the state must undertake a concerted effort to implement teacher training programs and improve infrastructure and processes that will minimize the unpleasant effects of the crisis. It is necessary to set up a system that will provide teachers withcomprehensive education on crisis management, promote student awareness of self-protection and disaster-relative information, and staff school units with personnel specialized in psychological support.