The Effect of School Safety on Learning Environment and Students’ Safety Behavior in Primary Schools

Abstract

Background and Aims: The purposes of this research were: (1) to examine the levels of school safety, learning environment, and students’ safety behavior in primary schools; (2) to study the relationship between school safety, learning environment, and students’ safety behavior in primary schools; (3) to study how school safety influences the learning environment and students’ safety behavior in primary schools.

Methodology: The study sample consisted of 320 teachers from primary schools under the Pathumthani District 1 Educational Service Area Office, selected using Krejcie and Morgan's table. Data were collected using a 5-point Likert scale questionnaire divided into four sections, with a content validity index ranging from 0.60 to 1.00 and an overall reliability coefficient of 0.979. Data analysis included mean, percentage, standard deviation, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis with stepwise selection.

Results: (1) overall school safety and students' safety behavior were rated at a high level, whereas the learning environment was rated at the highest level; (2) school safety correlated strongly with the learning environment (r = .824) and students' safety behavior (r = .769); and (3) school safety significantly predicted 68.30% and 60.90% of the variance, respectively.

Conclusion: School safety significantly predicted 68.30% of the variance in the learning environment, with building and facility safety having the greatest impact, and 60.90% of the variance in students' safety behavior, with protection from violence and all forms of abuse being the strongest predictor. However, the aspect of risk reduction and disaster recovery in schools showed no statistically significant effect.