MANAGEMENT OF PHYSICAL FACILITIES FOR HEALTHY AND SAFETY OF STAFF AND STUDENTS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN IMO STATE

Abstract

This study examined the management of physical facilities for healthy and safety of staff and students in secondary schools in Imo State. To guide the study, two research questions were raised and one hypothesis was formulated. Descriptive survey design was used for the study. The population of the study is 8,699, from the 247 public secondary schools in Imo State which comprised 247 principals and 8,452 teachers. A sample size of 1,739 respondents was drawn using the stratified random sampling technique, which represents about 20% of the population. A self-developed questionnaire and an observation schedule were used to collect data from the respondents. The instruments were validated and reliability was ascertained using test re-test method, with Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation, which gave the index as 0.76 while z-test was used to test the hypothesis of no significant difference. The findings revealed unhealthy and unsafe nature of the buildings, overcrowded and un-conducive classrooms, unhygienic toilets, hazardous furniture, among others. Based on the findings, the researcher recommended among others that healthier and safer school facilities could be maintained through collective commitment to safety compliance by principals, teachers and students