Impacts of discipline on performance in primary schools in Muruka Zone Kandara sub-county

Abstract

Due to poor performance experienced by learners with discipline problems in primary schools in Muruka zone, the researcher aimed at investigating the cause and impacts since it had been there for many years. The researcher was guided by the following research objectives to determine how child discipline affects academic performance of pupils, to assess the perception of community towards child education, to identify the local peoples suggestions on mitigation measures for addressing the problem of child discipline and to find out goals which were set when disciplining a child . This study was guide by Okumbes’ (1999) goal setting theory. In this theory, Okumbe argues that goal setting is central in the management of human beings. Goal setting theory is a motivation theory applicable in industrial and organizational psychology, human resource management and organizational behavior. Goal setting involves establishing specific, measurable and time targeted objectives. Further, this is a major component of social intellectual and moral development of individuals. This study adopted the descriptive survey design. The study was conducted in Kandara Sub County. A sample of 15% of the population was taken for this study. The study focused on ten public primary schools in which a total of 100 pupils were involved. The target group included all the residents of Muruka zone. The study used simple random sampling technique to select the study respondents particularly teachers and parents. Simple lottery was used to identify the respondents. Piloting was done using test-retest ; the instruments was pre-tested in two schools in Kandara sub county data collection was managed and analyzed by use of clean code and SPSS( statistical package for social sciences) where it was suitable. Data was entered in a computer, cleaned and coded and then it was analyze by SPSS whereby data was presented inform of graphs, tables and pie charts where necessary. It was found that almost all the respondents cited failure to implement the disciplinary rules according to school code of conduct. A good number also cited that the disciplinary style of educators was inappropriate leading to poor performance. To overcome this it was recommended the MOE should convene seminars, workshops and training programs for educators on cases of indiscipline in order to improve on performance. There should be an appropriate way of disciplining learners with indiscipline cases.