FROM PLANNING TO PRACTICE: A PROPOSED POLICY ENHANCEMENT FOR SCHOOL EVENT CROWD MANAGEMENT AND SAFETY

Abstract

Effective crowd management plays a vital role in ensuring safety and enhancing the overall experience at school events. This research, titled "From Planning to Practice: A Proposed Policy Enhancement for School Event Crowd Management and Safety," explores current crowd control practices in educational institutions and identifies critical areas for improvement. The study aims to develop a comprehensive policy enhancement that addresses existing shortcomings and promotes a safer, more organized environment for students, faculty, and event participants. This study adopted a research-based approach, utilizing a structured data collection tool and purposive sampling to gather insights from students enrolled in two distinct academic programs. The findings revealed notable deficiencies in current school crowd management practices, underscoring the need for more organized and proactive policies. Key recommendations include conducting thorough risk assessments, enhancing staff training, improving communication protocols, and leveraging technology for real-time crowd monitoring. Additionally, incorporating attendee feedback is encouraged to support continuous improvement and ensure safer, more efficient school events. The proposed policy enhancements are designed to establish a forward-looking, systematic approach to crowd management in schools. By emphasizing planning, effective communication, and the integration of real-time monitoring technologies, schools can significantly strengthen safety protocols and streamline event operations. This study catalyzes ongoing improvements and informed policymaking, fostering a culture of preparedness and safety in educational environments. The findings of this study underscore the critical need to reevaluate and enhance crowd management protocols in educational settings. Existing strategies often fall short in consistency and adaptability, exposing vulnerabilities during large gatherings. Feedback from students across multiple disciplines revealed noticeable gaps in event coordination, inadequate staff presence and direction, and limited utilization of advanced monitoring technologies. These deficiencies emphasize the importance of implementing more structured, technology-integrated, and staff-supported systems to ensure the safety and success of school events.