The Effects of the 6 February Kahramanmaras Earthquakes on Secondary Education in the Earthquake-Affected Region: The Case of Kahramanmaras Province

Abstract

The earthquake that occurred in Kahramanmaras on 6th February 2023 had an impact on the physical, social, psychological and educational aspects of many lives across Türkiye. The purpose of the study is to analyse the problems of secondary education institutions in the city of Kahramanmaras, analyse the role of earthquakes which have negative consequences in education and discuss the problems encountered by students, teachers and school administrators. A quantitative design was used and data were gathered by using structured questionnaires to students in secondary schools who are directly affected by the disaster. The SPSS 22.0 was used to analyse data of the survey with the aid of frequency distribution, t test, analysis of variance and reliability analysis. Results indicate 90% of students felt unsafe in school, 68% felt there were a lack of educational resources and 65% experienced trauma, anxiety or stress. Shelter, nutrition, safety, psychosocial exhaustion, uncertainty about the future, lack of educational facilities, decreased motivation, lack of resources and access to distance education were some of the key issues. The results also identify mental health, physical health, goal setting, resilience, coping and emotional competence issues. Therefore, educational continuity during major disaster necessitates disaster education for the community, equitable digital provision, systematic preparation of education personnel to maintain the teaching during disaster and accessible psychosocial support, as well as safe infrastructure. The study is carried out on Kahramanmaras Province.