Developing a Localised Approach to School Safety and Health Management: The Case of Mongu Schools of Western Zambia

Abstract

This study proposes a localised approach to school safety and health management. The study proposes that individual schools be allowed to localise school safety and health management according to their local needs. To this effect, the study used comparative study research design which involved three (3) schools sampled from Mongu district of western Zambia. Using a qualitative approach, data was collected using interview schedules, focus group discussion and structured observation. Safety and health concerns for the three schools were identified and comparisons were done. Data collected was transcribed and analysed thematically as an on-going process as themes and sub themes emerged. The findings showed that the schools explored had a variety of safety and health concerns unique to those school environments. The study also deduced that safety and health concerns inherent at each of the schools needed local solutions if they were to be fully managed because some of them were influenced by socio-cultural aspects of the school environment. The study concluded that a localised approach to school safety and health was more responsive to the needs of an individual schools as opposed to a generic approach planned and prepared at national, provincial or district level. This is partly because a localised school safety approach deals with specific safety and health issues peculiar to a given particular school. To this effect, the study recommends that individual schools should be allowed to devise their own safety and health management to effectively respond to local needs.