An Evaluation of the Emotions and Thoughts of First-Grade Primary School Students Who Could Not Attend School After the Earthquake During Their Readaptation Process

Earthquakes profoundly impact human life by causing both individual and societal trauma. Particularly, children's most basic feelings of safety and security can be shaken by earthquakes. This study aims to examine the readaptation process to school of first-grade primary school students who experienced the February 6, 2023, Kahramanmaraş earthquake and whose education was disrupted due to school closures. The study group consists of 13 students attending a primary school in the city center of Adıyaman during the 2023-2024 academic year. A qualitative method was used in the research, and the data were analyzed using descriptive analysis techniques. Through descriptive analysis, the physical and emotional difficulties experienced by the children were revealed. A semi-structured interview form prepared by the researchers was used as the data collection tool. The research findings indicate that students struggled to return to their previous routines after the earthquake, lived in tents near their damaged homes, and felt anxious about being helpless in the event of another earthquake since their families were not with them when face-to-face education resumed. This anxiety made it difficult for them to focus on lessons, and the ruins they saw on their way to school retraumatized them. Although their activities during the time they were away from school did not lead to the desired success, they believed they were able to readapt to school. Based on these results, recommendations were made such as increasing guidance services, implementing post-traumatic educational support programs, and expanding earthquake education programs.