Role of Management in Implementing Safety Policy to Ensure Safety of Learners in Primary Boarding Schools in The North Rift Region, Kenya

Abstract

Compliance of safety policy is paramount in schools. However, in Kenya, insecurity for learners still exists in schools within the North Rift Region arising from non-adherence of the safety policy. This paper analyzes the role of management in implementing safety policy to ensure the safety of learners in primary boarding schools in the North Rift Region, Kenya Adopting the Domino Safety theory by Heinrich, the study employed a convergent mixed methods design with a population 161 public and private primary boarding schools in the area of study. The sample size was 685 respondents comprising 48 head teachers, 96 teachers and 8 QASO Officers, 48 BOM chairpersons and 483 pupils. The study utilized questionnaires, interview and focus group discussions as the main data collection instruments for both quantitative and qualitative data. Qualitative data was analyzed using the thematic method. The results revealed that the role of management in implementing safety policy had a positive and significant effect on the safety of learners (β₁=.251, p=0. 024). 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. This paper demonstrates that most schools had not fully implemented safety standard policies. It is also evident that most stakeholders are not involved in decision-making regarding the safety policy compliance. Among other recommendations, the paper recommends that schools should ensure all stakeholders are engaged in learners' safety.