Challenges faced by head teachers in the implementation of health and safety programs in public secondary schools in Mvita Sub-County, Mombasa, Kenya
Abstract
The issue of Health and Safety in secondary schools is a growing concern in Kenya.
Even after the introduction of safety standards manual 2008 by the government in
schools nothing much has changed implying that there is a discrepancy in the way it
is offered and implemented. Accidents leading to loss of lives and injuries have
continued in Kenyan schools. Hence the need for concerted efforts by all stake
holders, head teachers included in a bid to strengthen health and safety programs for
effective learning to take place. This study sought to determine the challenges facing
the head teachers in implementing MOE health and Safety Standards and Guidelines
in Public Secondary schools in Mvita Sub-County, Mombasa County, Kenya. The
study was guided by the following objectives: to find out ways used by head
teachers to implement Health and Safety Programs in public secondary schools in
Mvita Sub- County; Mombasa County, to identify challenges faced by head teachers
in creating students' awareness of Health and Safety Programs in secondary schools
and to establish major strategies head teachers employ to enhance the
implementation of Health and Safety Programs in public secondary schools in Mvita
Sub- County; Mombasa County. The study adopted Maslow (1954) theory of
Human Needs. The target population was 2000 students and 13 principals from 13
registered public secondary schools. Random stratified sampling technique was used
to sample 8 principals while purposive sampling was employed to sample 200
students totaling to 208 number of respondents who participated in the study. Data
collection instrument used was the questionnaire. The data was organized by the aid
of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 computer software and
were analysed using descriptive statistics. The following were the findings:
challenges faced by head teachers in creation of awareness in students concerning
health and safety standards include: lack of conducting disaster crisis, management
and fire drills in some schools, ineffective implementing and monitoring organs such
Quality Assurance and Standards and lack of adequate financial resources among
others. On the strategies, the study found out that principals use registration of all
visitors, fencing, conducting fire drills, ensuring strong guidance and counselling
departments. Concerning ways principals employ in the implementation of health
and safety standards, the study found out that the latter ensure that windows did have
grills and wire mesh, reinforced fencing secured gates and provision of adequate fire
extinguishers. Also, frequent fire drills in schools were other ways of enhancing
implementation of health and safety program. The study made the following
recommendations: that principals should create ways of implementing health and
safety standards according to MoE's guidelines, they should also create forums for
school stakeholders especially students to create awareness in them concerning
safety issues. MoE through Quality Assurance and Standards department should
organize in-service workshops to equip principals with skills of implementing health
and safety programs.