| dc.description.abstract | The safety of secondary schools is critical for ensuring consistent academic performance.
However, schools worldwide face various threats that undermine this safety. In Kenya,
secondary schools have experienced several security challenges, including fires, theft, and
radicalization. Despite these risks, the adoption of electronic security surveillance systems
to mitigate such threats remains limited. In Trans Nzoia County, secondary schools are
particularly vulnerable to security threats, placing the school community at significant risk.
Against this backdrop, this study aimed to assess the impact of electronic security
surveillance systems on secondary school safety in Trans Nzoia County, Kenya. The
specific objectives of the study were to examine the nature and extent of electronic security
surveillance systems in secondary schools, evaluate their effectiveness in enhancing safety,
and explore the challenges hindering their optimal operation. The Situational Crime
Prevent ion Theory and Contingency Theory guided the research. A descriptive survey
research design was employed, targeting 14 secondary schools that had previously
encountered security threats and had installed electronic surveillance systems. Simple
random sampling and purposive sampling were used to select participants, including school
principals (14), boarding teachers (14), security personnel (14), students (70—10 from
each of the 7 schools), the County Director of Education (1), and the Chief Fire Officer (1).
Data collection methods included structured questionnaires, interview guides, focus group
discussions, and observation checklists. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive
and inferential statistics with the assistance of SPSS version 25, with a significance level set
at 0.05. Results were presented using tables and figures, with percentages and frequencies.
Qualitative data were analyzed thematically and presented verbatim. The study found that
CCTV cameras had been installed in all the surveyed secondary schools. The majority of
respondents (76.9%) agreed that the presence and extent of electronic security surveillance
systems contributed to enhancing safety within the school community. The interaction
between installed surveillance systems, national ICT policy, and school safety policy
explained 29.9% of the variance in the promotion of school safety (R² = 0.299, F (2, 75) =
15.966, p = 0.000). Additionally, 80.8% of respondents confirmed the effectiveness of
electronic surveillance systems in improving school safety. There was a 40.9% variance in
the effectiveness of these systems on school safety when national ICT and school safety
policies were implemented (R² = 0.409, F (2, 75) = 26.003, p = 0.000). However, 73.1% of
respondents reported challenges in the optimal operation of these systems, which were
significantly associated with the implementation of national ICT and school safety policies,
contributing to a 32.3% impact on school safety (R² = 0.323, F (2, 75) = 17.861, p = 0.000).
The study concluded that CCTV cameras are the most preferred form of electronic security
surveillance in secondary schools. However, challenges in their operation hinder their full
potential in maintaining school safety. Consequently, the study recommends that the boards
of management in secondary schools, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and
the Ministry of ICT, expand the use of additional surveillance technologies, such as fire
alarms, burglary alarms, metal detectors, and biometric systems, to enhance the safety of
the school community. Increased investment in electronic security systems is essential to
cover the entire school precinct and to support the personnel responsible for reporting
security threats. | en_US |
