PREPAREDNESS MECHANISMS AND SUCCESS OF FIRE SAFETY PROJECTS AMONG PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KENYA.

Abstract

The Ministry of Education recognizes fire disasters in schools as a serious challenge to learners’ ability to attain their full potential. Fire safety projects in secondary schools have been a serious challenge as depicted by the many fire incidences experienced in secondary schools thus the need of combined efforts in the establishment of fire safety preparedness mechanisms in all learning institutions in Kenya. The purpose of this study was to establish the influence of preparedness mechanisms on the success of fire safety projects in public secondary schools in Nairobi County. Specifically, the study focused on the influence of training, financial resources and Monitoring & evaluation on success of fire safety projects. The study is anchored on the theory of constrains and system theory. Descriptive research design was adopted with a target population of 60 fire safety projects implemented in public secondary schools in Nairobi County. The unit of observation were 60 persons in charge of fire safety projects. Questionnaire was used to collect the data. Piloting was done in 6 public secondary schools in Kiambu County and the data obtained was used to test reliability of the instruments. Multicollinearity, linearity and normality test were done to ensure the Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression assumptions are not violated. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics, and multiple regression. The study found out that all the factors considered in the study were significant as indicated by high values of mean. Trainings conducted strongly influenced the success of fire safety projects in secondary schools, followed by monitoring and evaluation and financial resources. The study recommended more trainings on fire safety and responsiveness to be carried out not only among the staff but also among the student for quick reaction in case there is an outbreak. The management of the school also need to be keen on the root cause of the fires and put measures to respond on them.