Adherence to School Safety and Its Relationship to Students’ Performance in Machakos County, Kenya
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Date
2024-09
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
International Journal of Innovative Research and Advanced Studies (IJIRAS)
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between school safety and the academic performance
of secondary school students in Machakos County, Kenya. The objectives of the study were to: establish the status of
school safety in public secondary schools in Machakos County, examine how safety in schools impinges on the learning
process, and establish whether secondary school students’ perception of safety in school correlates with their academic
performance. The study used a mixed methods research approach. The targeted respondents were all the 84,800 students,
2,954 teachers, and 332 principals in the 332 public high schools in the County. The research utilized stratified random
sampling method to select 400 students, 40 teachers and 20 principals, leading to 460 participants. Data was obtained
using students’ questionnaires, teachers’ questionnaires, and principals’ interview schedules. Quantitative data was
analyzed using correlation analysis, frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviations. Qualitative data was
analyzed thematically using content analysis. The study found that, while the respondents generally perceive certain
aspects of school safety positively, there are notable areas of concern that warrant further attention and intervention to
enhance overall safety and well-being in secondary schools, including inadequate toilet facilities, overcrowded dining
halls, and the absence of comprehensive education on drug and alcohol abuse. Results indicated a moderate positive
correlation between students' perception of school safety and their academic performance (r = 0.136, p < 0.05).
Recommendations include enhancing safety protocols, increasing stakeholder involvement, and investing in technology to
enhance school safety. The study findings could be useful to policymakers, principals and tutors by identifying measures
that may be utilized to improve school safety for the wellbeing of students in schools
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Journal Article
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Citation
Mwongeli, M. W., & Njogu, I. N. (2024). Adherence to school safety and its relationship to students’ performance in Machakos County, Kenya. International Journal of Innovative Research and Advanced Studies (IJIRAS), 11(9). ISSN: 2394-4404.