ABSTRACT
This study investigated the status of safety measures and its effects on performance in public primary schools in Kilifi Sub-County, Kilifi County - Kenya. For effective management and learning of children in schools, safety measures are paramount. In a majority of public primary schools in Kenya, the situation is wanting (Simatwa and Omollo, 2010). Four objectives were explored. They were to: determine the extent to which safety measures had been implemented, establish levels of safety awareness, establish the factors that influenced the implementation of safety measures and find out the strategies that had been devised by headteachers and quality assurance officers to enhance the implementation of safety measures in public primary schools in Kilifi Sub-County, Kilifi – County. The study employed a descriptive survey research design in which 4797 respondents were targeted and a sample size of 479 was used. Questionnaires were used to collect data from teachers and pupils whereas interview schedules were used to collect data from DQASO. Results of data analysis were then presented using frequency distribution tables, bar graphs and pie charts. It was found that the state of safety in public primary schools in Kilifi Sub-County was in a pathetic condition because almost all the schools had not implemented most basic safety measures. It was concluded that negligence, lack of funds and communication barrier led to unsatisfactory implementation of safety policies. The study recommended that all headteachers ensure that emergency drills are conducted regularly to enhance preparedness and purchase the required number of first aid kits and fire extinguishers. Headteachers should also ensure that construction and maintenance of fences was done to enhance school safety and facilitate a greater involvement of all the stake holders to ensure a collaborative approach to the implementation of safety policies. The Ministry of Education on the other hand ought to ensure that headteachers peg admission to class space to avoid over-crowding in schools, provide all schools in Kilifi Sub-County with funds to implement safety policies and improve on the coordination and follow-up of all the stake holders in the safety policy implementation process.
