Publication: The effectiveness of the strategies used in managing student Discipline in secondary schools in Nandi Central District, Kenya
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2014-11
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Mount Kenya University
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Abstract
Discipline is the epicenter of success of a school and members of a school are required to strictly
adhere to various standards or codes of behavior. Student discipline is a crucial factor not only in
academic achievement but also success in other school activities. The challenge of managing
student discipline is pervasive and constant. The issues of management strategies and student
discipline in secondary schools in Kenya are viewed by many as contemporary problems that may
turn into a crisis if not checked. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of
selected strategies used in managing student discipline by secondary schools in Nandi Central
District, Nandi County. The objectives of the study were; to determine the effectiveness of
guidance and counselling in enhancing student discipline, to find out the effectiveness of
communication as a strategy in management of students discipline, to investigate the influence of
student motivation on student discipline, to examine the effectiveness of students‟ participation in
decision-making in enhancing students‟ discipline and to determine the Principals‟ effectiveness
in managing students‟ discipline. The study adopted Bandura‟s (1997) Social Learning Theory.
The study used survey research design and employed the mixed methodology. The target
population consisted of 45 Principals, 45 Deputy Principals and 45 Heads of Departments in charge
of Guidance and Counseling of all public secondary schools in Nandi Central District. The sample
size was 102 respondents comprising of 34 Principals, 34 Deputy Principals and 34 Heads of
Departments in Charge of Guidance and Counseling. Sample of Principals, Deputy Principals and
Heads of Departments in Charge of Guidance and Counseling was obtained by use of simple
random sampling. Questionnaires and interview guides were used to obtain data relevant to this
study. In ensuring content validity, suggestion from educational research experts was sought to
establish whether the questionnaire truly measured what was aimed at while reliability was
obtained through piloting and split-half method was used to determine reliability coefficient. A
reliability coefficient of 0.75 was obtained. For Quantitative data, descriptive statistics such as
frequencies, means and standard deviation were used. It was found out that majority of the teachers
reported that timely information to the students aided in discipline management. However,
majority of the teachers reported that the school administrations had not placed notice boards in
the school. Furthermore, majority of the teachers reported that rewarding the most disciplined
students promoted student discipline. Nevertheless, majority of the teachers cited that most school
Principals involved teachers in the management of student discipline. It was recommended that
secondary school administrations should strengthen the use of guidance and counselling and
communicating effectively in the management of student discipline. Institutions which embraced
the various strategies of management of student discipline had Free- learning atmosphere, effective
and timely communication, student consultation and student rewarding system and vice versa. The
study findings could be helpful to the Government of Kenya in solving the escalating problems of
indiscipline in most schools. Secondly, the study will help to provide a guide to head teachers not
only in Nandi County but also in other schools in the county at large on rules and regulations, and
provide preventive measures against indiscipline through strategies other than corporal
punishment.
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Educational planning, Management