The effectiveness of the strategies used in managing student Discipline in secondary schools in Nandi Central District, Kenya

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.