A situational analysis of safety policy compliance on learner’s safety in public and private primary boarding schools in the North Rift Region, Kenya

Abstract

Compliance of safety policy is paramount in schools, however, insecurity for learners still exist in schools within the North Rift region arising from non-adherence of the safety policies. This study aimed to analyze safety policy compliance on learners' safety in primary boarding schools in the north rift region, Kenya. The objectives which guided the study were: to analyze safety standard measures put in place to ensure the safety of learners, to assess the stakeholders' level of awareness on learner safety, to examine the role of management in implementing safety policy to ensure the safety of learners, to establish the incidences of insecurity as a result of noncompliance to safety policy, and to explore challenges faced by administration in implementing safety policy in public and private primary boarding schools in the North Rift Region. The study adopted the Domino Safety theory by Heinrich and management theory by Fredrick. The study employed a convergent mixed methods design. The target population was 161 Public and Private Primary Boarding Schools in the North Rift Region with a target population of 813, comprising 161 head teachers, 322 teachers, 161 BOM chairpersons, 1610 pupil representatives and 8 QASO. The sample size for this study was 685 respondents comprising 48 schools where 48 head teachers, 96 teachers and 8 QASO Officers, 48 BOM chairpersons and 483 pupil representatives. The study stratified schools from the 8 counties in the North Rift Region. The study then selected the public and private primary boarding schools proportionately from each stratum. The research further selected head teachers, teachers, pupils, BOM representatives and QASO Officers proportionately. The study utilized questionnaires, interview schedules and focus group discussions. Both quantitative and qualitative data was collected. Descriptive and Inferential statistic were used to Quantitative data. Qualitative data were analyzed through thematic analysis based on the discussions and observation checklists as the main data collection instruments. The results indicated a positive linear effect of safety standard measures put in place on the safety of learners (β 1 =.225, p=0.043). It was further established that stakeholders' level of awareness had a positive and significant effect on the safety of learners (β 2 =.307, p=0.011). Additionally, the role of management in implementing safety policy had a positive and significant effect on the safety of learners (β 3 =.251, p=0. 024). Finally, incidences of insecurity were found to have had a negative and significant effect on the safety of learners (β 4 =-.229, p=0.009). The study findings from interviews revealed that there were safety standard measures put in place to ensure the safety of learners; however, all had not been well implemented. The study concluded that most schools had not fully implemented safety standard policies. It was evident that most stakeholders were not involved in decision- making regarding the safety policy compliance. Among other recommendations, the study recommends that the schools should ensure all stakeholders are engaged in learners' safety.