Influence of students’ discipline on performance in Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education in public secondary schools in Nakuru municipality Kenya.

Abstract

Students’ discipline is a prerequisite to almost everything a school has to offer students. In order for a satisfactory climate to exist within a school, a certain level of discipline must exist. In the school system, discipline is necessary for the effective management, if the goals of the schools are to be accomplished. The purpose of this study was to find out whether the discipline of secondary school students in Nakuru Municipality influences their academic performance in KCSE. The objectives that guided the study included determining the students’ level of discipline in public secondary schools in Nakuru Municipality; determining KCSE performance trends in public secondary for the years 2007 to 2010; determining the influence of students’ discipline on their performance at K.C.S.E; and suggesting strategies that can be put in place to mitigate student performance in K.C.S.E in Nakuru Municipality. The study adopted the descriptive survey design. Purposive sampling technique and simple random sampling technique was used for the study; whereby the Principals were selected purposively, given their strategic positions in the management of the schools, while teachers were selected using simple random sampling technique. A study sample of 190 respondents was used for the study. Data was collected by use of questionnaires. Data collected was then analysed with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences for descriptive statistics (means, frequencies and percentages). After data analysis, the results were presented in the form of charts and tables for interpretation. The findings showed that: the level of student discipline in public secondary schools in Nakuru Municipality was below average. Further, KCSE performance trends in public secondary for the years 2007 to 2010 were unimpressive; the level of student indiscipline in public secondary schools in Nakuru Municipality was negatively affecting student performance in KCSE to large extent. The study also established that the strategies which can be put in place to mitigate student performance in K.C.S.E and were already being used frequently in Nakuru Municipality included provision of guidance and counseling services as a strategy; review the school rules as a strategy; creation of a good environment within the school; Parental involvement; and providing appropriate communication channels. The study recommends that the Teachers Service Commission in liaison with the Ministry of Education through the Kenya Institute of Staff Training should regularly organize refresher courses for head teachers of secondary schools to increase their capacity in effective handling of discipline issues among students; Teacher training institutions should introduce specialized and comprehensive training Programmes on administrative skills, effective handling of discipline cases (student counseling) and human resource management; and the school management should consider adopting reality therapy approach so as to improve students’ performance in KCSE.