Evaluation of School Environmental Health and Safety Indicators of Public and Private Schools in Tikrit City

Abstract

Background: The school is a fundamental institution where intellectual knowledge,  manual  and  behavioral  skills,  social  connection,  and  the character  of  future  generations  have  formed. Therefore  identifying, managing, and preventing the adverse effects of environmental factors in schools impact the health of the present and future communities they are in.. Subject, material, and method: This is a descriptive (cross-sectional) study done in Iraq, Salah Al-Deen Governorate, Tikrit City from the 17th of October, 2022 to the end of May 2023. The study sample was 30 schools (20 public and 10 private) out of 279 schools (252 public and 27 private), including 15 primary schools (five private and ten public) and 15 secondary schools (five private and ten public). A well-designed questionnaire was used  to  collect  information  about  environmental  health  and  safety indicators. Data was collected by researcher through direct observation and interviews with school manager or assistant in each school after pilot study. Result: The study found that proper school location away from hazards and proper area-to-student ratio in 16(53.3%) of schools. Proper schoolyards and  sustainable  gardens  both  meet  standards  in  14(46.7%)  of  schools. Suitable class size, ventilation, and lighting with class infrastructures in 19(63.3%)  schools.  Conclusion: The  study  revealed  that  19(63.3%) schools  in  Tikrit  City  did  not  meet  the  health  and  safety  standards regarding school classes and furniture while more than half of the schools 16(53.3%) were fully meeting the standards regarding school location and area. The  schoolyard  and  garden  were  fully  meeting  the  standards  in 14(46.7%) school.