School Conflicts and Implications on Students’ Performance: A Case Study of Practicing Teachers Undertaking Masters in Education and Administration at Mount Kenya University

Abstract

The purpose of the paper was to evaluate the influence of student’s conflict on the academic performance. Target population is the aggregate of the study unit whom consisted of ongoing practicing teachers undertaking Masters in education and administration students at Mount Kenya University on August holiday who were 220 in number from all over the country. The gathered data was analyzed using quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods. Qualitative research tools were analyzed using descriptive techniques frequency tabulation as well as person correlation to establish the link between frequency of schools conflict and academic performance. The open ended qualitative comments were analyzed to establish the major emerging themes. Conflict in Kenya Public Schools is a common phenomena which is manifested in various manners such as indiscipline cases, disobedience, delinquent behaviours, time wastage , truancy, causing disturbance through verbal or physical confrontation which can sometimes precipitate into violence, indiscipline’s cases sometimes is an indicators of underlying and simmering conflict, sabotage of schools norms like tasks, destroying the school properties, communication breakdown and relational breakdowns. If these conflicts are not managed and controlled it prevent students at personal level and school at large from attaining the purpose of education and will have negative impact on student academic performance. Conflict when unresolved leads to pupils and students absenteeism in class which affect academic performance , Conflict causes higher teachers absenteeism which affect performance of pupils or students, Conflict causes poor quality of education, Conflicts can causes principals or head teachers turnovers, leading to leadership disruption which interfere with students academic performance, Conflicts causes pupils or students retention and enrolment crisis affecting performance, Conflict at individual or school level causes destruction of schools properties, teaching and learning materials and Conflict causes school closure which interfere with learning calendars