Integrating School Safety Management with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Abstract

School safety is a fundamental condition for quality learning and sustainable social development. This article proposes a framework for managing safety in Thai schools as a “systematized practice” that is verifiable and aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The framework synthesizes the Comprehensive School Safety Framework (CSSF) with the Ministry of Education’s “3P measures” Prevention, Promotion, and Suppression covering four major dimensions of risk: physical, socio-behavioral, health, and digital. It addresses contemporary challenges including the digital era, climate change, and the post-COVID context. Practical components are emphasized, such as establishing a risk register, developing incident reporting and confidential reporting systems, conducting regular evacuation drills, and integrating review cycles through PDCA, all in compliance with personal data protection (PDPA). A matrix linking the “four risk groups, 3P measures, SDGs, responsible units, and key performance indicators (KPIs)” is developed to translate policy into routine school practices. The analysis indicates that this approach reduces accidents and violence, enhances sanitation and disaster preparedness, strengthens participation and learning outcomes, and enables schools to transparently report progress toward SDG 3, 4, 11, and 16 in a comparable and sustainable manner. At its core, the framework fosters a “safety culture” shared among administrators, teachers, students, parents, and local networks.