Teachers’ Level of Awareness on and Implementation of Child Protection Policy

Abstract

This descriptive correlational research aimed to determine the level of awareness and implementation of the Child Protection Policy among teachers. This study also aims to determine the significant relationship between the awareness and implementation in the four secondary schools in Banga District 1. The study involved 64 junior high school teachers where a survey questionnaire was used to determine teachers’ level of awareness and implementation of child protection policy. The teachers’ level of awareness regarding the Child Protection Policy was evaluated using a weighted mean. To examine the relationship between teachers’ awareness and their level of implementation of the policy, Pearson’s r was employed. An adapted survey questionnaire served as the research instrument, and a total enumeration sampling technique was used, meaning all members of the target population were included as respondents. The data indicate a very high awareness of teachers regarding Child Protection Policy. It was also shown that teachers are highly engaged in the implementation of child protection policy. Furthermore, there is a moderate positive and statistically significant relationship between the level of awareness and the level of implementation of the child protection policy among teachers. The data indicates that as teachers’ awareness of the policy increases, so does their effectiveness in implementing it. The study concludes that while teachers demonstrate strong knowledge and enforcement of Child Protection Policy, further training and inter-agency collaboration are necessary for enhanced implementation. Recommendations include targeted training on specific policies, strengthened partnerships with agencies, and periodic policy evaluations to improve child protection efforts in schools.