An investigation of impact of student councils on discipline Management in secondary schools; a study of Nandi south District, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of student councils on school discipline in secondary schools in Kenya, Nandi South District being the focus. The study sought to achieve the following objectives: to find out whether secondary schools in Nandi south district have established student council to govern student body and the roles of student council, whether the introduction of student council improves school discipline. The study was guided by Linkert‟s management systems Theory. Descriptive survey research design was utilized and the target population was head teachers, deputy head teacher and students of Nandi South District. Stratified random sampling was used to categorise schools into three; mixed day, boarding girls and boarding boys then 30% of each category was selected. Questionnaires, interview schedules were used to collect data. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistical techniques such as percentages, means and standard deviation together with inferential statistics; linear regression analysis that determined the impact of student council involvement and discipline management in schools. The study findings showed that there has been significant (p<0.001) reduction in indiscipline cases in secondary schools in Nandi South District. The students, teachers and head teachers acknowledged that lateness; sneaking, strikes, truancy and drug abuse have considerably declined in most schools with failure to complete homework and stealing remaining to be key indiscipline cases observed across secondary schools within the district. The study recommends that student council members should be empowered and be involved in decision-making process in secondary schools so that harmonious relationship could be achieved in school and community.