Publication: The Role of the Physical Learning Environment for Supporting Safe Schools
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2023-12-31
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2023-12-31
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School safety is critical for positive student, teacher, and school-level outcomes. Schools are safe when all students, teachers, and staff can thrive in a welcoming environment that supports learning, health and well-being, and positive relationships. Promoting school safety should consider both the physical and remote spaces in which education takes place as well as other non-tangible aspects of the school and learning environment, such as norms and values. School safety comprises five main characteristics—each of which can impact and should be considered in promoting the safety of students, teachers, and the overall teaching and learning (T&L) environment. The characteristics include physical safety, mental health and well-being, instructional practices and environment, interactions and relationships, and school connectedness. The objective of this Note is to provide global guidance including strategies on the role of the physical learning environment (PLE) in supporting and sustaining safe schools. The Note also includes resources and case studies that show how countries have employed safe school strategies and provides additional evidence on the role of PLEs in fostering learning, health and well-being, and relationships. The note is intended to be used by policymakers, practitioners, school leaders, and/or teachers who are engaged in preparing school infrastructure standards, strategies, plans, programs, and projects. The strategies reflect the need for complementary efforts at scale and within individual school communities. At national and/or regional levels, the planning, design, and construction of new schools should prioritize the safety, sustainability, and efficiency of school infrastructure investments, including both the construction of new schools and improvements to existing PLEs. At the school level, school communities should proactively address identified safety shortcomings in PLEs where possible and fill gaps in support from higher-level authorities. While all PLE strategies are relevant to the creation of safer schools, some interventions may be a higher priority for some contexts than others depending on the main challenges they face (for example, natural hazards or community violence).
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“Alasino, Enrique; Laberenne, Rebecca. 2023. The Role of the Physical Learning Environment for Supporting Safe Schools. Safe Schools Practices Series. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/43285 License: CC BY 4.0 IGO.”
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