SCHOOL SAFETY: EFFECTS OF INSPECTION, CHALLENGES FOR CONTRACT INSPECTORS AND THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO RISK MANAGEMENT

Abstract

School security and monitoring contracts serve as essential tools to enhance the safety of students and education professionals. This article explores school security from a risk management perspective, specifically examining the roles of outsourced surveillance, security camera systems, and panic buttons in the educational context. The study investigates the outcomes of such monitoring and the challenges faced by contract inspectors in a municipality in Rondônia. The aim is to uncover the difficulties they encounter in fulfilling their responsibilities and their contributions to managing associated risks. Employing a descriptive research design with a deductive method and qualitative approach, the research initially involved a bibliographical review to understand the nuances of outsourced school security contracts and the relevant legislation governing monitoring functions. Subsequently, a questionnaire was distributed to security contract inspectors in the selected municipality to glean insights into their daily routines and monitoring practices. Findings indicate that most inspectors had not observed any risk situations within schools over the past two years and reported maintaining positive relationships with outsourced security personnel. They acknowledged the crucial role of panic buttons and security cameras in safeguarding the school environment. Nonetheless, a significant number reported lacking recent training, underscoring an urgent need for public policies aimed at enhancing the quality of monitoring and support for these inspectors.