Introduction: Public education is considered as one of the most important methods for preventing and coping with natural disasters. So, providing a model for designing and implementation of these trainings is of great importance. This study aimed to do this.
Method: This was an applied research with a combined method of data gathering. In qualitative part of the survey, the research tools were organizational documentations and semi-structured interviews with focus groups while in quantitative part questionnaire was used. Research population consisted of experts in public education, administrators and population planners. Purposive sampling was used to reach theoretical saturation of the data. To validate the model, 17 participants answered the questionnaire. In qualitative part, validity was confirmed by the participants and in quantitative part, content validity method was used. The reliability was approved obtaining Cronbach's alpha of 0.98.
Findings: Public education was imperfect in terms of organization, regulations, structure and process. A public education model based on components such as need assessment, design, implementation, evaluation and motivational mechanisms in both aspects of conventional and distance training was provided. Using t-test showed validity of the model in both aspects of conventional (t = 0.25; P < 0.05) and distance (t=-0.17; P < 0.05) training.
Conclusion: based on the results, a comprehensive, holistic and systematic public education model in both conventional and distance is presented. To make the education more effective, some subsystems such as needs assessment, design, implementation, evaluation and motivational mechanisms should to be considered.