Title:
SCHOOL SAFETY AS A MANAGEMENT IMPERATIVE TO LEARNER ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

Authors:
Buyisani Dube , Duduzile Nkomo , Sikhangele Mcelelwa and Rudo Gumbo, Botswana

Abstract:
School management has a crucial role to play to ensure schools become an epicenter of academic excellence and positive behaviour development. School safety stands out as one of the priorities that school managers need to address to enhance teaching and learning in schools. This study aimed to examine school safety as a management imperative to learner academic achievement in secondary schools of Gaborone, Botswana. The study was coached within the qualitative approach of the constructivist paradigm. Population of study consisted of school principals, members of the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) and teachers. Purposive sampling was used to select participants with rich information regarding school safety in schools. Individual face-to-face interviews were conducted with 3 school principals and 3 members of the PTA. Focus group interviews were administered with 6 teachers. Data was analysed thematically. The study established that school principals have the capacity to facilitate school safety but existing policy needs to be stream lined with shifting trends in the education system. The study recommends that policy reforms anchored on an inclusive agenda should be made to enable all stakeholders to contribute effectively to the creation of safe school environments.