School Culture, Management, Attitude And The Enforcement Of Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures (Sops) In Primary Schools, Ntusi Sub County, Sembabule District Of Uganda

Abstract

ABSTRACT The current study was carried out in February and March 2022 after the Government’s directive to open up all schools in the country. Prior to that, they had been closed due to COVID-19. This study was therefore carried out in all the 12 primary schools found in Ntusi sub county of Sembabule district. Ntusi Sub County is one of the seven sub counties found in Sembabule district. Other sub counties are Lugusuulu, Lwebitakuli. Lwemiyaga, Mateete, Mijwala, and Sembabule Trading Centre. Specifically, the study was carried out to find out the influence of school culture on the enforcement of COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures in primary schools in Ntusi Sub County, Sembabule district of Uganda; to examine the correlation between school management and the enforcement of COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures in primary schools in Ntusi Sub County, Sembabule district of Uganda, as well as to find out the relationship between attitude and the enforcement of COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures in primary schools in Ntusi Sub County. Using a cross sectional survey design with qualitative and quantitative approaches, 310 questionnaires were distributed to the respondents. Of these, 240 questionnaires were returned, hence a response rate of 77.4%. Therefore, the data were gathered from 248 respondents (240 pupils who provided quantitative data and eight headteachers who supplied qualitative data). The results indicated that there is a significant influence of school culture on the enforcement of COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures in primary schools in Ntusi Sub County, Sembabule district of Uganda. This implies that if school culture is strong, even the enforcement of standard operating procedures becomes strong, and vice versa; there is a significant correlation between school management and enforcement of COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures in primary schools in Ntusi Sub County, Sembabule district of Uganda; and there is a significant relationship between attitude and the enforcement of COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures in primary schools in Ntusi Sub County, Sembabule district of Uganda. Based on the findings of the study carried out in Ntusi Sub County, it is clearly established that school culture, school management, as well as the attitude of school administrators strongly influence the enforcement of Standard Operating Procedures related to COVID-19 in the primary schools. The fighting of COVID-19 in Ugandan schools therefore requires much participation and appreciation of school managers. Since it has been established that school managers (head teachers) highly influence the enforcement of SOPs: The Ministry of Education should enforce schools to develop strong cultures and ensure that they follow them because the higher the school culture, the more the likelihood of observing SOPs. In addition, there is need for the government to work closely with the head teachers, bring them on board so that they can cause the learners to follow the SOPs. There is also need for the government to sensitize the learners more on all the SOPs so that all people develop a positive attitude towards these measures without bringing in religious-based issues. Human life safety comes before religious values; therefore, positive attitude should be developed towards all SOPs.