Educational policy trajectories to address the issue of students' (in)security at school

Abstract

When analyzing the issue of students' (in)security at school, researchers often define the phenomenon in terms of lack (deficit, dysfunction). In school, lack of security (dysfunction) is considered a situation that actually or potentially affects the physical and psychological security of students, violates human and children's rights, undermines human dignity, and fails to ensure legitimate expectations of health. This includes the existence of a physically dangerous environment, lack of psychological comfort, an unfavorable social climate, and encroachment on personal and school property, among other issues. The most important subject and social actor in school security is the student. School security dysfunctions include the actual circumstances occurring inside and outside the school environment. Thus, students’ (in)security at school is a multifaceted issue that requires constant attention and investment in ensuring physical, psychological, digital, and other forms of safety at school. It is one of the important and complex issues addressed not only by educational, psychological, and management researchers but also by educational policy researchers and policymakers. Recent analyses of education policy practices in different regions and countries show that the focus is not only on physical security measures but also on the emotional and psychological well-being of students. This underlines the need for coherent and evidence-based education policies to address the challenges of students’ (in)security at school. This study examines Lithuanian education policy responses to the issue of students’ safety at school by assessing the different experiences and practices of education policies in various countries. The analysis of strategic documents, legal acts, and scientific literature reveals the expression of the concept of (in)security of students at school and the main directions and trends of educational policies aimed at overcoming this problem.