Assess the effects of discipline on KCSE performance in Public secondary schools of Karunga Zone, Gilgil Division

Abstract

A study to assess the effects of discipline in public secondary schools on KCSE performance was conducted in Karunga zone, Gilgil division. Specific objectives of the study were; to establish the causes of indiscipline among students, to identify characteristics of effective discipline and to find out if there is relation between discipline and academic achievement. This study design was survey study because it only analyzed schools in Karunga zone, Gilgil Division in line with the objectives of the study. The design was chosen because it was an efficient method of collecting data as it sought to determine the strength of relationships between many variables. In this case our target population was teachers in all public secondary schools with classes that have sat for KCSE in Karunga zone, Gilgil Division. Sampling design used was census of all the public secondary school in Karunga zone, Gilgil Division since it allowed data to be collected from many respondents thus resulting into more conclusive and comprehensive study. Data collection method in this study was by use of self-administered questionnaires with open and close ended questions. Before the actual study, a pilot study was conducted among schools in Mbaruk zone in Gilgil division since it has the same characteristics as that of the study area to ensure that the data collection tool has the correct questions that enabled the researcher to carry out the study that meet the objective of the study. Data was analyzed using content analysis technique because it was of questionnaire in nature and content description was on the basis of analysis. Data was presented using pie charts, graphs and tables. Permission to carry out the research was obtained from the country education officer and the respondents who are the teachers and data collected was handled with a lot of confidentiality and privacy. The study findings shows that there were causes of indiscipline among students, and the respondents were in a position to cite characteristics to effective discipline among students in school and thus they discussion shows that there is relationship between discipline and academic performance. Drawing recommendation that; the Ministry of Education to convene seminars, workshops and training programme for educators and parents to provide guidelines in respect to the role of learners in maintaining discipline in school, the contribution of parents concerning school discipline and the role of educators in exercising effective discipline in class, that the District Offices of Education must ensure that all schools have a code of conduct for learners and the school governing body must adopt and enforce the code of conduct and further research of a quantitative and qualitative nature must be undertaken on the understanding and handling of disciplinary problems in schools.