Publication:

Factors Contributing To Indiscipline in Public Secondary Schools in Nyeri Central District.

The aim of this study is to determine which factors contribute to lack of discipline in public secondary schools within Nyeri Central District. Specifically the study sought to; determine whether lack of resources in schools contributes to indiscipline in public secondary schools within Nyeri Central District, establish whether the socio-economic background of learners influences indiscipline in public secondary schools within Nyeri Central District, and assess whether the home environment contributes to indiscipline in public secondary school within Nyeri Central District. The unit of analysis was all the 292 teachers involved in cases of indiscipline in secondary schools. The study used a descriptive survey research design. The target population of this study was teachers in public secondary schools in Nyeri Central District in Nyeri County. The study population was all the 292 principals, deputy principals and teachers in the 17 public secondary schools in Nyeri Central District. Simple random sampling was used to select eighty eight (88) teachers. The principal of the 17 schools helped in selecting the respondents who had relevant information. This study used primary data which was collected through use of structured questionnaires which were self-administered. The study obtained quantitative data only. Quantitative data obtained from the questionnaire was coded for analysis using the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS). This analysis helped to generate descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics aided in analysis of percentages, frequencies and mean of responses while inferential statistics helped to generate regression analysis which showed the relationship between the variables under study. The results were presented in form of charts and tables. Based on the findings it is possible to conclude that lack of resources, socio economic background and home environment contribute to indiscipline in public secondary schools in Nyeri Central District. This was evidenced by the positive and significant coefficients of the relationship between lack of resources, socio economic background and home environment and indiscipline in public secondary schools. Based on the findings the study recommended that the government should give support public secondary schools so as to acquire necessary resources. This would aid in building structures such as science laboratories, computer laboratories, buying school buses and other appliances. The study also recommended that parents should be advised to play an active role in disciplining their students and giving them the right direction in life. In addition, the school should come up with mechanisms of guiding the students without having very stringent rules and regulations which make the students act in rebellion. Further, the study recommended that the school should consider employing specialist in counseling psychology who would give guidance and support to students who could have had traumatic experiences in the past or come from unstable families. This will go a long way in ensuring equity amongst the students and thus helping to curb indiscipline in schools.