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Training Students in Safety of Life
G.N.Kirillov, Deputy Emergency Minister
Safety is always material. It does nor exist in general. When people mention safety they mean safety of people in the wide sense.
Population defense envisages defense of each person in case of emergency and this is state's responsibility. Responsibility of citizens consists, first and foremost, in studying of basis of self-care and mutual aid in case of emergency, ability to implement this knowledge.
Ability of people to defend themselves is established on the grounds of training and formation of a special kind of consciousness instigating the demand to master corresponding skills and means of protection as well as activity motivation aimed at receipt of additional information, determination of corresponding choice in certain situation and participation in risk management on the level of society. Formation of this type of consciousness is based on the grounds of knowledge of risk and in its turn represents a ground for active, well-considered and goal-oriented actions. Thus the most important issue in the area of human protection lies in necessity to point people's mind towards the goal of harmonious development of man, nature, technosphere and so to harness elemental forces.
In RF Constitution (Article 72) measures of prevention of catastrophes, natural disasters, epidemics and liquidation of their consequences refer to the subject of common competence of federal authority and state power machinery of entities of the Russian Federation. Federal laws "About protection of population and territories from emergencies of natural and man-caused character", "About rescue services and statue of rescuers", "About civil defense" create a basis for efficient and valuable activity in the area of emergency protection of population; dozens of by-laws, standards and provisions add to the legal basis of management.
State policy aimed at people training in the sphere of civil defense (CD) and protection in case of emergency is brought into practice in the following main directions:
- training of leaders and officials of federal bodies of executive authority, local bodies of executive authority of RF entities, local authorities in charge of CD and emergency;
- training of managers, leaders, officials and experts of organizations in charge of CD and emergency regardless proprietary form;
- training of employees of organizations being a part of civil organizations of CD;
- training of population engaged in the sphere of production and service as well as training of population not engaged in the sphere of production and service;
- training of schoolchildren and students of general and professional education.
RF Federal law of 21.12.94 No 68-ФЗ "About protection of people and territories from natural and man-caused emergencies" (Article 11) established obligation of governmental power bodies of RF entities and local governments "to train and keep ready all the powers and means required to protect people and territories in case of emergency, teach people how to use means of protection and whet to do under such circumstances ". Article 19 of law determines obligations of RF citizens in the area of protection of population and territories from emergencies. Among other tasks there is this one: "to study basic ways of protection of people and territories from emergency, first aid methods, guidelines of use collective and individual means of protection, always update knowledge and practical skills in the area". Article 20 determines that "training of population to act right in case of emergency is effected by organizations including educational institutions and at the place of residence".
One of basic trends of RF Government activity in the area of emergency situations prevention and ensuring security of people and territories is forming of mass "safety culture" through mass media and system of education and professional training.
People training is based upon the order approved by resolution of RF Government of 24.07.95 No 738 "About the order of people training in the area of emergency prevention". The standard act establishes that RF people training in the area of emergency prevention is held in accordance with age and social groups and implemented at enterprises, institutions and organizations (including those of general education) regardless their organizational and legal form as well as at the place of residence. Training supervision, coordination and control is entrusted with Ministry of Emergency of Russia.
The resolution of RF Government makes specific the provisions of RF Law "About protection of people and territories from natural and man-caused emergencies" with regard to the issue of youth training in the area of emergency protection.
So Article 2 determines that "... students of institutions and organizations of elementary, secondary and higher professional general education are subject to emergency prevention training " and Article 4 determines that "Training of students of general education institutions and establishments of elementary, secondary and higher professional education is effected during study hours in accordance with educational emergency prevention programs. The programs are approved by Ministry of Education of Russia after agreement with Ministry of Emergency of Russia ".
Certain knowledge, abilities and skills united into a common system may formulate a new competency of students which is the most important for life preserving in XXI century. This competence will allow graduates of schools of general education maintain health and safety, estimate and build their activity in accordance with the idea of own and public safety.
Competence of people in the area of life safety is important for successful Russia development under conditions of transition of world community from industrial development to post-industrial one. It will serve as a basis for further training of specialists in professional educational institutions of all levels and descriptions and especially of occupations directly connected with protection.
Ministry of Emergency of Russia feels in charge of the problems of life safety issues introduction into educational institutions and actively participates in the process. The ministry officers were involved into development of programs, manuals and teaching aids; creation of teaching and material basis as well as financing of the works was implemented. They also considered the matters of preschool age children and youth teaching up to the level of higher professional education.
The first steps in teaching children the issued of safety are taken at preschool educational institutions. In 1995 program "Basis of preschool age children safety" was developed. In conformity with it children of older groups are in game taught rules of the road, safe behavior in everyday life and other basic concepts of life safety.
The best results in problems solution in the area of life safety are reached through general education: children and teenagers easier adopt the motives encouraging observation of norms and rules of safe conduct at home, outdoors, at school, in the country and then in society and at works. Many programs of general education of the world contain sections devoted to health and safety. They are intender for youth preparation for life under conditions of recently increased number of various dangers. In Russia from 1991 this role is taken by the course of "Basis of life safety" (BLS course) which later included some issues of basis of military service.
Fragmentary including of safety issues into available school subjects would not be systematic and would not allow to use the potential of educational process in full measure. BLS course is intended for training "a safe type" of person who is well-acquainted with contemporary problems of life safety and vital functions of humans. The type of person would understand who extremely important the issues are and who would try to solve the problems and along with it to reasonably blend together personal and public interests.
BLS course is being approved by general education institution for ten years. Of course it is not a great period of time, so called period of growth and coming-to-be. BLS course is introduced into educational process with great difficulties.
The problems are familiar: lack of clear normative documents by Ministry of Education of Russia as well as well-trained teachers in this area; poor educational and material basis; need to develop manuals for regions and school supplies. New social and economic conditions of the state have also played a significant role. And nevertheless BLS course takes appropriate position in school curriculum.
In elementary school the issues of safety are reflected in differentiated course "Human being and the environment" introduced in almost every school.
Most of the problems go to secondary school. For 5-9th years BLS course is made an option from Basic curriculum by resolution of Ministry of Education and in many schools it is only present if there is free room for it. Such condition is intolerable as it infringes pedagogical principle of educational continuity of BLS course in system of school of general education. In spite of this Ministry of Emergency of Russia and local education control bodies BLS course is introduced into regional and school components of Basic curriculum in 76 entities of RF. However situation with life safety education improves not as fast as we would like it to. The above reasons constitute the constraint.
Currently Ministry of Education of Russia considers the matter of status "subject" attachment to BLS course under 11 years education. Regardless urgency, lasting normative legal basis and teachers' interest to the subject, students and public subject "Basis of life safety" is not included into compulsory minimum of basic educational programs in the project of state educational standard of general education for elementary and secondary school. This impairs integrity of knowledge receipt and that is why it is inadmissible.
Activities (competition) in program "Safety school" is an essential link of system of mass activities. For the purpose of organization of students' life safety training after school All-Russia Children and Youth Public Movement "Safety school". Movement "Safety school" allows to faster in studying youth along with other moral and will qualities such important personal features as collectivism and cooperation. In 2001 All-Russia Children and Youth Public Movement "Safety school" was included in Federal Register of Youth and Children Association of Russia supported by the state. Today movement "Safety school" joins more than 200 thousand students in 72 regions of the Russian Federation. Under direct support of Ministry of Emergency of Russia during the period starting in 1995 6 All-Russia competitions of "Safety school" students were held. In 2002 on the level "city-district-region-territory" more than 21 thousand competitions were held in which about 1.7. million of people took part. Now regional competitions of the 7th All-Russia competitions of "Safety school" students are on, later territorial competitions will be held. Final of the 7th All-Russia competitions of "Safety school" students will take place in August, 2003 in Vologda region.
Principal concern of Ministry of Emergency of Russia is given to development of elementary professional orientation of students in the field "Junior rescuer". Under immediate participation of officers of Civil Defense and Emergency Department in RF entities 7 military schools, 15 schools, 285 classes and 1553 study groups (units) "Junior rescuer" were established. And even if finally a child, a future young man, will not knit up his life with the uneasy job of rescuer the skills obtained after in-depth study of the specific issues will help him protect himself and his neighbors in case of emergency.
Competence of school graduates in the area of life safety will serve as a basis of further preparation of specialists in professional educational institutions of all descriptions connected with safety of life, society and state.
In educational institutional of basic professional education preparing specialists on the grounds of basic general (9-years) education the BLS course is a continuation of the same course of general school and corresponds to the course for 10-11 forms but due to specific character of professional education it has its own peculiar features. Approximate program of BLS course envisages formation of knowledge, skills and certain experience in the area of protection of human health under extreme conditions.
In educational institutional of secondary professional education BLS issues are studied by students within subject "Basis of life safety" on the grounds of basic general education and within subject "Life safety" on the grounds of secondary (full) general education. Programs of these subjects envisage preparation of students to act right in case of emergency.
Let us note a positive fact: the subject "Life safety" is included in state educational standards of all specialties of secondary professional education in the volume of 60-90 hours according to field of study. The program of subject for institutions of secondary professional education was developed on the grounds of program of higher educational institution with simplification of some issues study in conformity with the level of base knowledge. But in spite of the fact that the subjects are secured by normative and legal aspects there is still a number of questions and problems to solve. So BLS educational hardware leaves much to be desired and it does not differ from one in institutions of general education. Situation with teachers' staff is in a sorry plight too. At best the teaching process is managed by teachers of other fields who underwent advanced training in scientific and methodical center of secondary professional education.
Kirillov Gennagiy Nikolaevich worked as a Deputy Head of Headquarters of Civil Defense of Moscow, Head of Central Regional Center for the Affairs of Civil Defense, Emergency and Natural Disasters Consequences Liquidation. Deputy Minister for the Affairs of Civil Defense, Emergency and Natural Disasters Consequences Liquidation. Colonel-general.
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