Influence of Student Councils’ Involvement in School Governance on Students Discipline in Public Secondary Schools in Kathonzweni Sub-county, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of student councils’ involvement in school governance on students’ discipline in public secondary schools in Kathonzweni Sub-County, Kenya. The study objectives were: to establish the influence of student councils’ involvement in decision making on students’ discipline in public secondary schools; to establish the influence of student councils’ involvement in implementation of school rules and policies among students on their discipline in public secondary schools; to establish the influence of student councils’ involvement as a link of communication between students and administration on student’s discipline in public secondary schools; and to establish the influence of student councils’ involvement in student welfare activities on their discipline in public secondary schools. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The target population was 30 public secondary schools in Kathonzweni Sub-County. Stratified random sampling was used to select a sample size of 108 students, 162 teachers and 28 principals. Questionnaires and interview guides were used to collect primary data. The questionnaires were also subjected to pilot test to ensure that research instruments were reliable. The data collected were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences computer programme version 20.0. The results were presented in form of frequency tables and chi square tests. Chi square tests were used to show the relationship between the variables. The results of the study indicated that schools where student councils were not involved in decision making were characterized by high levels of indiscipline compared to those schools where students were involved in decision making process. Further, school where a student council is not involved in implementing school rules was characterized by high levels of indiscipline than those that involved students in implementing school rules. A school where a student council did not act as a link of communication was characterized by high levels of indiscipline than those where student council acted as a link to the administration. Finally, a school where a student council are not involved in the deciding over students welfare activities was characterized by high levels of indiscipline than those where student council was involved deciding over students welfare activities. It is concluded that student council involvement in decision making ensures that students participate in the management of schools. It is also concluded that involving student council in implementing school rules influences students’ discipline. It is also concluded that involving student council to act as a link between students and school administration influences students’ discipline. It is recommended that students be involved in decision making through student councils selected. This ensures that students are accommodated by building a sense of belonging to the school. It is also recommended that student councils be involved in implementing school rules and policies. This will ensure that school rules and policies are implemented effectively. It is also recommended that student councils are involved in deciding the welfare of the other student.