Delphi-based Research into School Efficiency During an Earthquake Crisis

Purpose: Because of the important role schools play in the lives of children and in responding to post-crisis problems, and given the recent earthquake in Kermanshah province, the current study aimed to identify the indicators of an efficient school. Methodology: Using a qualitative method, this study was performed in classic Delphi and phenomenological phases on a research population comprising all workers and experts in the field of education in Sarpol-e Zahab city, Iran, who had worked from 2017 to 2019 in the city. In the first (phenomenological) phase, 15 city employees in the field of education were chosen using purposive sampling. In the second phase of the study, the sample comprised 11 people of Sarpol-e Zahab who were deemed education experts by education employees in the region, had worked in the city from 2017 to 2019, and had witnessed the earthquake. Findings: After documenting the interviews conducted with the participants, 290 codes were conceptualized and then categorized into four general indices (students; school teachers and staff; school facilities, structure, and environment; and family). Based on the codes extracted from phase one, an 82-item questionnaire was designed for the second research phase (Delphi study). Ultimately, after three rounds of responses, 23 questions were removed, and the expert panel agreed on 59 questions. Conclusions: Based on the results, it can be concluded that an efficient school is one that can consider the four dimensions of students school teachers and staff, school facilities and structure, and environment and family in designing the school.