Assessment of the Environmental Health and Safety Status of Schools as a Critical Factor to Sustainable Development

Safety and health in schools are essential for addressing students' physical, psychological, and social needs. Insufficient access to safe water and sanitation can impede educational outcomes.

This descriptive cross-sectional study assessed the environmental health and safety conditions of primary schools in Fasa, Fars Province, Iran, in 2024. Data were collected using a standardized 79-item checklist based on environmental health regulations and national standards. The study population comprised all 64 urban primary schools across three administrative regions of Fasa, Fars Province, Iran. A current numbered sampling frame (1-64) was used, and 27 schools were selected through simple random sampling. Data collection included direct observation, interviews, and measurements conducted by the school health officer during on-site visits. Each visit involved the school health coordinator or a trained staff member to ensure standardized and accurate data in accordance with national school health protocols.

Comparisons revealed no statistically significant differences between girls' and boys' schools (mean: 80.85 for girls' schools vs. 80.25 for boys' schools, P=0.8843) or between public and private schools (mean: 76.37 for public schools vs. 77.22 for private schools, P=0.8876), indicating minor mean differences relative to overall variability. In contrast, old versus new schools (mean: 74.35 for old schools vs. 84.43 for new schools, P=0.0828) exhibited a notable mean difference of approximately 10 points, although this difference did not reach conventional statistical significance.

Despite that environmental health and safety conditions in urban primary schools in Fasa, Fars Province, Iran are generally acceptable, several challenges persist, including inadequate sanitation in canteens, limited green spaces, and suboptimal ventilation and temperature control.