A PRESENTATION

ON

SECURITY AND SAFETY IN LEARNING INSTITUTIONS

DURING

HOMA BAY COUNTY STAKEHOLDERS FORUM FOR PRINCIPALS AND HEAD TEACHERS OF BOARDING
SCHOOLS AT

OGANDE GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL

ON 7TH JUNE 2023

Presented By:

ADERA D.O.

ADQAS CDE’s OFFICE HOMA BAY

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1.0 INTRODUCTION

The safety and security of our children at all times and everywhere cannot be over emphasized as it is
central to the provision of quality education in any country

This is true for learners at all levels of education but particularly critical for learners at the basic
education level in view of their relatively tender ages

Children of this early age are very vulnerably to threat such as bullying by their older colleagues,
intimidation, verbal and physical abuse and all manner of harassment.

Apart from personal threats, insecurity for children can also emanate from inappropriate school
facilities, unsafe water and infrastructure which may include poorly constructed classrooms and playing
grounds, insufficient and broken –down toilet facilities , gender insensitive location of toilet and
bathroom facilities and inadequate and inappropriate desks and other furniture’s.

2.0 Definition

Safety – measures undertaken by the learners, staff, parents and other stakeholders to either minimize
or eliminate risky conditions or threats that may cause accidents, body injury as well as emotional and
psychological distress

Security – a state of being free from danger or threat. Protection from potential harm caused by others
or restraining the freedom of others to act.

3.0 Areas within the school compound where safety is critical:-

➢ School grounds
➢ Physical infrastructure
➢ Health and hygiene
➢ Safety of water
➢ School environment
➢ Food safety
➢ Drug and substance abuse
➢ Safe teaching and learning environment
➢ Socio-cultural environment
➢ Child abuse
➢ Transportation safety
➢ School-community relation
➢ Disaster risk reduction
➢ Emerging anti- social behaviors – LGBTQ,cultism,and extremism.
➢ Safety committees

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 i) Insecure school grounds

Refers to entire enclosure designated for use by the school for any of its activities such as learning,
playing, games or sports. The indicators of safe school grounds are:-

- Title deeds well kept in tamper proof facility and away from any risk or clearly demarcated
school compound pending documentation and issuance of title deeds
- Registration documents properly kept
- Properly fitted and lockable gate or gates with a security office
- Good security arrangement with provision for both night and day personnel
- Well maintained and clean learning rooms
- Well maintained and clean desks and chairs in classrooms ,offices and other relevant places
- Properly maintained play grounds for various sporting activities and free area for general play
- Properly arranged and maintained walkways , motor ways and parking
- Properly reinforced fence with appropriate mechanisms for repair and maintenance

To ensure the above, the administrators should:-

✓ Secure ownership of land

✓ Schools without fence to post NO Trespassing and Visitors report to Heads Office
✓ Visitors to Sign the Visitors’ Registers
✓ Erect sign boards to show directions to various facilities
✓ Level ground
✓ Bare areas planted with grass to minimize effects of dust
✓ Trees labeled, indicating their uses
✓ Playgrounds reflect diversity of sports talents
✓ Walkways demarcated with flowers or shrubs rather than wires which may cause injuries
✓ Cctv to capture critical areas

ii) Unsafe Physical infrastructure

Include classrooms, offices, toilets, dormitories. Libraries, laboratories, kitchen, water tanks,
playground equipment among others

All should comply with Public Health Act and Ministry of Public Works building Regulations on:

Design, approval, construction/site supervision, handing over and commissioning. Existing

structures should be assessed to ensure compliance to health and safety.

a). Classrooms

- Size- 7.5M X6.0M

- Doors open outwards

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- Storeyed buildings – with wide enough stairways and located at both ends
• Hand rails be strong and firmly fixed
• Cater for learners with special needs
- Corridors be both well ventilated and lit
- Windows be without grills
- Class rooms well lit and ventilated
- Floors level
- Fitted with serviceable fire extinguishers
- Equipped with appropriate furniture to avoid physical deformities e.g. curvature of spine,
contraction of chest, roundness of shoulders or a stoop. These can create tension and fatigue
among learners
- Well arranged desks at least 2 feet apart to facilitate orderly movement
b). Dormitories
- Spacing of beds at least 1.2M while corridor or pathways space not less than 2 meters
- No sharing of beds- admission be tied to bed capacity
- Door ways at least 5 feet and open outwards. Must not be locked from outside when learners
are inside.
- Door at each end and additional emergency exit at the middle
- Locked when learners are in class or in playing field and keys kept by dormitory Master or
prefect
- Windows be without grills and easy to open outwards
- Fire extinguisher placed at each exit with fire alarms fitted
- Regular Spot check be undertaken before learners retire to bed
- Accurate roll call taken every day
- Regular patrol by security personnel and No visitor should be allowed in the dormitory
- Regular inspection hygiene standards of the dormitories and learners on alternate days of week
- Bunk/Decker beds be strong and firm and fitted with side grills to protect young learners against
falling off
c). Water and Sanitation infrastructure

Sanitation definition: All structures constructed for the purpose of disposal of human waste and for
cleanliness. You must observe the following:-

- Built 10M away from tuition and barding facilities and on down ward wind
- Ablution block attached to dormitories, high degree of cleanliness must be maintained
- Pi latrines at least 20ft deep and should be regularly disinfected
- Pit latrines at least 15M fro a bore hole
- In mixed schools, girls’ sanitation areas must be separate and offer complete privacy
- Sanitation facilities 1:30 boys, 1:25 girls
- Staff sanitation – separate provision for ladies and gentlemen-1:12
- If learners are responsible for cleaning, proper protective measures must be taken- e.g. gloves
and face masks.

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 - Water quality and quantity – sources, mentainance, ascertaining quality
- Soap and tap water or water cans fitted with taps should be set outside the toilets for hand
washing
- Girls’ tap water / washing places should be behind a screen or wall.

d). Libraries

Designated place for storing, lending and reading of books. Always ensure:-

- Adequate ventilation and lighting

- Wide alleys of passage ways to facilitate evacuation
- spacious room for easy movement
- Dusting books regularly at least after 3 days
- Properly reinforced and well spaced bookshelves

e). Administration block

- its first call for all visitors

- Store house of all the vital school records

Administration block should have:-

- Offices for key personnel in addition to staff room and registry

- Centrally located and not far from classrooms
- Windows and doors be burglar proof
- Fire extinguisher must be fixed
- Fire proof cabinets for storage of essential office materials and documents
- Provision for easy access to legal and administrative documents

No physical infrastructure should be constructed or occupied without consultation with and approval of
the Ministry of Works, Public Health and Education

A school site plan should be developed and always made available.

iii).Inadequate/ poor Health and hygiene standards

Learners can reap maximum benefits from teaching /learning process if they are healthy thus good
health and nutrition are indispensable for effective learning.

Factors that affect learner’s health include:-

- State of physical infrastructure- dusty, unclean floor can result in respiratory problems
- Poor lighting – eye problem
- Poor ventilation – respiratory problems can occur /spread of communicable diseases
- Poor acoustics – lead to learning distractions but also to hearing problems
- Contaminated water- typhoid , cholera and dysentery

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 - Irregular bathing and cleaning of clothes

Emotional health of the learners is equally affected by the length of the school day, school rules and
regulations and ways of handling learner behavior

To promote good health and hygiene among learners, schools should:-

- Collect and keep accurate and up to date comprehensive medical data

- Regular medical check ups of learners for early detection and management of infectious
diseases
- Have a sanatorium equipped with first line treatment drugs
- Ensure working and adequate first Aid Kit and facilities to provide emergency care in schools
- Undertake remedial emergency action in case of sudden illness or accidents and thereof inform
the parents or guardians
- Manage the environment to keep away insects and other vectors in order to reduce contact
with such organisms-malaria, typhoid, cholera
- Provide adequate and safe water for drinking and use by learners- let M.O.H carry out regular
inspection and certification for all water sources
- Undertake immediate steps to close the school when there is a threat of an epidemic outbreak

iv. Unsafe school environment

This entails physical surroundings of the school and they should ensure that:-

- All buildings are well ventilated

- Exterior and interior lighting be of appropriate standards to make it difficult for intruders to go
undetected
- Classrooms and occupied building be well lit so learners do not strain while undertaking learning
activities
- Solid waste should also be properly disposed to avoid spread of diseases
- Adequate tuition and boarding facilities
- Appropriate colours should be used while painting the inside and outside of classrooms
- Dangerous electrical wires and defective appliances

Waste disposal

These are wastes generated from the kitchen, classroom, and laboratory or from the daily routine
compound cleaning and mowing

To ensure proper disposal of waste, the following should be done:-

- Disposal sites be located in isolated places

- Separation of waste into bio-degradable and non bio-degradable
- Sites be well fenced
- Accumulated waste should be disposed of using safe and effective methods

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 - Waste buckets be placed in classrooms, office ,library or laboratory
- Buckets for disposal of non infectious waste should be placed in strategic places outside the
buildings or in common walkway to reduce littering

v. Non adherence to Food Safety guidelines

Refers to access and consumption of wholesome food that promotes good health and optimal body
functioning. The school to attain above then should ensure:-

- Adequate and safe storage facility for food items

- Prohibit illegal hawking /vending of food to students as the safety of such foods cannot be
guaranteed
- Food purchased is fresh , good condition and safe for consumption
- Protect food from rodents, insects and bacterial contamination
- Chopping tables, utensils are clean at all times
- Food handlers should be medically certified after every six months
- Encourage washing of hands , before and after meals

vi. Drug and substance abuse in or around schools

A chemical that changes or modifies one or more of body functions

Drugs can have a major effect on learners; some include poor mental health, violence, withdrawal
symptoms, hallucinations, anxiety and suicidal tendencies.

Ultimately academic performance of learners will be adversely affected

3 categories of drugs are narcotics, tobacco and alcohol

Therefore, schools should endeavour to be drug free by:-

- Teachers acquiring knowledge and understanding about drugs and signs of drug abuse
- Sensitize learners about the dangers of drug misuse and abuse and ways of resisting peer
pressure to try drugs
- Elicit the assistance of parents and the larger community – parents and community members
should closely monitor the activities of kiosks situated near the school with a view to taking
necessary remedial intervention
- Cooperate with law enforcement agencies , social services and health professionals to talk to
learners and staff on issues relating to drugs
- G&C team endeavour to provide counseling and pastoral advice to learners and make referrals
to local treatment programme
- School should show care and concern through counseling

Teachers need to appreciate that the best way to fight drug abuse is to counsel those caught engaging in
this vice

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vii. Unconducive Teaching and learning environment

Conditions within the school under which teaching and learning takes place within the classroom and
outside e.g. library, workshops.

Interaction among learners should encourage them to be actively involved in learning and studying.

Measures which should be put in place:-

- Development of school motto or vision focusing on holistic and excellent learner development.
Ensure all internalize the motto
- Promotion of comfortable conditions that facilitate quality learning
- Encourage instructional strategies that actively engage learners in the learning process
- Promote child- centered approaches to teaching
- Adopt class management strategies to reduce learning interruptions
- Encourage learners to express themselves freely in class –Baraza’s
- Encourage learners to participate in co-curricular activities such as sports and educational trips
which enrich learning

viii. Unsuitable Socio -cultural environment

All stakeholders must provide an environment that is supportive to effective learning and the full
development of the learners.

This would only be possible if the relationships between various stakeholders are cordial and
reinforcing.

Therefore the following are key:-

- School personnel and learners exhibit safe and caring attitude and behavior towards one
another
- Learners be trained to be respectful towards one another
- Administrators must be accessible and supportive to both staff and learners
- Head teacher should promote a culture of compliance with school rules and regulations in order
to produce law abiding citizen
- Administrators should encourage learners to report cases of violence for appropriate action
- Parents and teachers should cooperate to promote learning and development of learners
- Respect one another’s cultural and religious beliefs and provide pastoral care as needed
- Establish G&C programmes
- Sensitize parents /guardians and community members about negative cultural practices
- Suggestion box should be established where various stakeholders can deposit their views

ix. Incidences of Child Abuse and neglect

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Subjecting a child to physical, sexual, emotional or neglectful behavior. This takes place in families,
schools and in the community.

Teachers play a key role in protecting children and if they become abusers, the implications are very
serious since they spend more time with learners and therefore should be able to:-

- Identify children who have been subjected to child abuse and report suspected cases to the
police, children’s department or other appropriate authority
- Sensitize learners to distinguish between a honest parental touch and an ill intended immoral
touch by the parent, relative or any other
- Advise learners to report any case where peers , relatives, strangers and parents touch their
private parts
- Learners be warned against accepting any inducement
- Sensitize parents and community members on issues relating to child abuse
- Advise learners to walk in groups while in secluded places , plantations, bushes

x. Unsafe means of Transportation

Schools should ensure that:-

- Vehicles are comprehensively insured and regularly serviced

- Fitted with appropriate seats and seat belts
- Must have first aid kit
- Clearly display on the outside the name, address and telephone number of the school
- Fitted with approved speed governor
- No undesirable materials e.g. posters should be depicted inside or outside the school vehicle
- Field trips need parents consent in writing and accompanying at least two teachers mandatory
- Enforce discipline among learners while on school trips or when attending co-curricular activities
away from school
- Should not be on the road by 6.00pm
- No overloading
- Approved boda bodas – safety to and from school

Xi. Lack of Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy

Disaster is an emergency event that occurs with little or no warning causing extensive destruction of
property, lives and disruption of normal operation

D.R.R designed to minimize destruction of life, property and disruption of normal operations

Action to be taken:-

-post evacuation maps at every entrance and exit to buildings, classrooms, enclosed hallways, stairways
and offices

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Practice drill sessions –fire once a month

Maintain emergency kits which contain-first aid box, whistles, fire blankets, flash torches, fire
extinguishers, blue prints of school buildings

Safety during thunder storms and lighting

- Learners remain in school and stay in doors seated inside school buildings
- Install lightening arresters

Fire

Prevention:

- Inflammable substances should never be stored in classrooms and dormitories

- Electrician should regularly check the electrical wirings and replace any that is weak
- Hurricane lamps in dormitories should be properly regulated
- Learners and staff should under take periodic fire drills
- Fire extinguishers be located in strategic places

In case of fire:-

- Leave immediately without creating any panic rush

- Crawl on the floor
- Doors feeling hot should not be opened one should not run in clothes that are on fire

Xii school community relations

Focuses on how learners and staff are viewed and treated by members of communities within which the
schools are located and vice versa.

The Basic Education Act 2013 section 56(1) provides the community collaboration in the management of
schools in Kenya through Boards of Management.

Therefore learners and staff should create a school climate that is conducive or other stakeholders to be
involved in a wide range of school activities.

All the stakeholders should share the same vision regarding the role of the school and certain attitudes
and behaviours are expected from each like:-

- Developing linkages with community around the school

- Learners and staff should have a positive attitude towards members of the local community
- Behave with respect towards them and their culture
- Organize regular joint meetings on academic matters with parents or guardians and learners
- Organize regular joint co-curricular and cultural activities with members of local communities
- Participate in community activities – cleaning community areas
- Encourage them participate actively in school’s development

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 - Parents be wary of hazards their children are likely to encounter from school

Xiii) Infiltration of schools by agents of devil worship, LGBTQ, cults and extremism
- Watch out for common behaviors and symbols associated with LGBTQ and devil worshipers.
Please google.

- Do School Safety committees carry out safety audit? How often do PHO, works officers,
security agencies, Fire Brigade, Kenya power/Licensed electricians & QASOs visit your schools?
They have advisory and enforcement roles.

- Be conscious of NGOs –do they have letters of authority and introduction from CC and CDE?

If the areas mentioned are taken seriously then our safe and secure school environments would
facilitate and foster peace & tranquility, quality teaching and learning resulting to minimal delinquency,
truancy and absenteeism especially among the girls thus ensuring our quality education leads to
sustained development within the society.

Thank you

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