SAFETY IN WORK ENVIRONMENT AND TEACHERS’ EFFECTIVENESS IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN RIVERS STATE

Abstract

The paper examined Safety Management for the Enhancement of Staff Performance in Public Secondary Schools in Rivers State.  The paper adopted the desk-study approach in which related literature were reviewed in the area of safety management as it relates to the enhancement of staff performance in schools. The paper looked into safety measures available in Public Secondary schools in Rivers State, Impact of Safety Issues on Teacher Performance, Management Approach to handling Safety of Teachers, and the concept of teacher performance.   The paper decried the inadequate or in some cases unavailability of safety measures in public secondary schools in Rivers State.  The paper concluded that there is need for management or employers of teachers to provide safety gadgets in the offices and ensure effective use of such resources by teachers.  The teachers themselves cannot work in an unsafe environment.  Both the employer of the teacher and the teacher himself have mutual role of ensuring safety in the workplace.  When teachers are safe or feel safe it will enhance their job performance of effective teaching and the overall benefit will be on the school organization producing or graduating quality students. The paper suggested that management should provide modern and up-to-date safety equipment for teachers both in the staff room and classrooms, among others.