Positive school climate as the key socio-psychological aspect in the security of educational institutions

Abstract

There is a general consensus in contemporary scientific literature that a school climate, as a multi-dimensional construct that encompasses physical, social and academic aspects, is a key socio-psychological factor in creating a safe and secure school environment. The intense interest of scientists, which dates back to the first decades of the last century, has resulted in the development of different research approaches and models that can assess and improve the general social climate in the school and thus create the necessary prerequisites for the safe functioning in the school environment. Starting from the importance of the school climate in the development and maintenance of security in educational institutions, this paper, in addition to defining the concept and describing the most influential models of assessment of the school climate, deals with the characteristics of a safe school environment and proposes activities with which the key participants in the school life can contribute to the development and maintenance of a positive social climate in school.