Provision of School Safety Devices for Administrative Effectiveness of Tertiary Institutions in Rivers State

Abstract

This study investigated provision of school safety devices for administrative effectiveness of tertiary institutions in Rivers state, Nigeria. Three research questions and three hypotheses guided the study. The descriptive survey research design was adopted. From the three public universities in Rivers state, 1810 academic and non-teaching staffs was selected as the sample size/population for the study. The Provision of School Safety Devices for the Administrative Effectiveness of Tertiary Institutions in Rivers State questionnaire (PSSDAETIN), was used in data collection. The instrument yielded overall cronbach alpha reliability coefficient index of 0.75. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 23 for mean score and standard deviation of the research questions, while z-test statistical analysis was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The study revealed that only a few school safety devices: caution signs, suitable sanitary conveniences /toilets, and emergency hot lines to call were available. Also, low budgetary allocation, and absence of safety subject matter experts (SME) in schools were identified as some challenges confronting the provision of these devices. The study concluded that only few school safety devices were available and provided for administrative effectiveness in tertiary institutions in Rivers State. Based on the findings, it was recommended that universities management should engage the services of safety subject matter experts and Government agencies to develop an education based national safety policy that can encapsulate ergonomics, wellbeing programme and the uniqueness of the school environment in light of post-Covid-19 pandemic realities.