Managing fire safety among religious schools: Issues and policies

• Main Authors: Subramaniam, Chandrakantan, Abd Aziz, Fadzli Shah, Hassan, Zuraida
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: 2004
• Subjects: LC Special aspects of education
• Online Access: http://repo.uum.edu.my/2383/1/Fadzli_Shah_Aziz%2C_Chandrakanthan_%26_Zuraida_%282004%29_01.pdf; http://repo.uum.edu.my/2383/; http://lintas.uum.edu.my:8080/elmu/index.jsp?module=webopac-l&action=fullDisplayRetriever.jsp&szMaterialNo=0000224711
• Institution: Universiti Utara Malaysia

In recent years, there were several incidents of fire in religious schools among them were Sekolah Menengah Agama Al-Attas, Sekolah Menengah Agama Sultan Zainal Abidin and Sekolah Menengah Agama Nurul Islam. A study conducted by the Ministry of Education has found there were outbreaks of fire in 22 primary and secondary schools as well as in institutions of higher learning for the year 1999 resulting in losses of RM 534,400. This study was carried out to identify fire safety conditions in among religious school hostels in Kedah. An audit approach as well as the use of questionnaire was adopted to collect primary data for the study. The audit results showed that the overall fire safety condition was at 63% compliance level. The audit results also revealed that there was significant difference among the religious; school hostels in term of fire safety compliance level. The items reported were portable fire extinguishers, fire hose reels and fire alarm system. The survey 'identified two important dimensions in the study to improve fire safety at religious school hostels in ranking order are (i) positive attitude towards fire safety and (ii) access to fire fighting.