The perspectives of school management team in creating a safe learning environment

Abstract

Secondary schools in South Africa are facing many challenges one of them being unsafe school environment. Although schools have in place School Management Teams (SMTs) who oversee teaching and learning activities, such are also responsible for ensuring a safe school environment. In some South African schools, there is daily occurrence of violence; bullying; drug and alcohol use; and a growing culture of gangsterism have been reported. Despite these incidences little is known about the perspectives of SMTs regarding creating safe school environment. The aim of this study was to conceptualize safe learning school environment from the views of SMT members. I intended to establish how the SMT members in this study, namely, teachers, go about creating a safe learning environment; the challenges they experience; as well as the support they need in creating and managing a safe learning environment. The research followed a qualitative research approach and a Case Study design. Purposeful Sampling was used to select participants from three secondary schools in Brits, North West. The three schools are non-paying schools under Quintile 1, with more than 1000 learners per school. The participants included Heads of Department, Deputy Principals and School Principals. The findings from this study show the different perspectives of what contributes to unsafe and safe schools; the strategies that the SMTs take to create a safe school environment; as well as the support. Recommendations from the study are made on how to support SMTs in creating safe learning school environment.