Influence of Board of Management Governance Practices on the Safety Standards in Public Secondary Schools in Rabai Sub-county, Kilifi County, Kenya

Abstract

Secondary schools’ Boards of Management (BOMs) are mandated to ensure implementation of safety standard policy. However, persistent of safety threats in schools calls for questioning the capacity of management to dispense the function properly. The aim of the study was to examine the Board of Management governance practices affecting implementation of safety standards policy in secondary schools in Rabai sub county, Kilifi County, Kenya. The objectives of the study were; to assess the influence of BOMs sensitization of Students on compliance to safety standard in public schools in Rabai sub county, to explore the effect of student engagement by BOMS in decision making on compliance to safety standards in public secondary schools in Rabai sub county, to examine the effect of disciplinary rules and regulations employed by BOM on compliance to safety standard in public secondary schools in Rabai sub county and to explore the adequacy of monetary resources mobilized by secondary schools BOM on safety standards compliance in Rabai sub county. This research targeted BOM members, teachers and learners in the sub county as well as sub county director of education and sub county quality assurance and standard officer. Data gathering instruments were questionnaire and interviews schedule. Instrument validity was conducted through searching for expert perspective of university supervisor. Instrument reliability was examined through test-retested technique. Results given in frequencies and percentages were analyzed using descriptive statistics for both quantitative and qualitative data. Findings revealed that BOMs’ sensitization of students, student engagement (by BOM) in decision-making and adequacy of monetary resources mobilized by secondary schools’ BOMs has a positive and significant association with safety standards compliance in secondary schools. The study concluded that operationalization of safety standard policy, implementation of budget, maintenance of physical infrastructure and imposition of rules and regulations had enforcement of rules and regulations on influence on execution of safety standard policy are critical to ensure schools safety in Rabai Sub County. The study recommended that BOMs provide safety legal and policy documents, set up safety committees, enhance training on safety, look enough funds, enforce guidelines on financial transactions, issue schools’ rules and regulations and facilitate guidance and counselling to implement safety standards policy in secondary schools in Rabai sub county.