Students’ Perception on the Influence of Drug and Substance Abuse on Discipline in Public Secondary Schools in Mombasa Island, Kenya

Abstract

Indiscipline among students in public secondary schools is a problem that has persisted over the years throughout the world and is worsening each day. A number of studies have associated this problem to drug and substance abuse. Thus, the purpose of this study was to assess students’ perception on the influence of drug and substance abuse on discipline in public secondary schools in Mombasa Island, Kenya. The objectives were; assessing the levels of students’ discipline, the influence of drug intoxication, addiction and drug-related depression on students’ discipline in public secondary schools. The study was guided by the Comprehensive Theory of Substance Abuse Prevention and the Assertive Discipline Theory. The study applied mixed methods and adopted explanatory sequential research design. Target population comprised 2489 students in Forms III & IV. Using the Central Limit Theorem, 252 student respondents were selected using simple random sampling from the six subdivisions. Purposive sampling was applied to select six principals and six teacher-counselors to serve as key informants. Quantitative data were collected from students in Forms III & IV using questionnaires while qualitative data were collected from key informants who included six principals and six teacher-counsellors using interviews. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically along the objectives and presented in narrative forms whereas quantitative data was analyzed descriptively with the help of Statistical Packages for Social Science (SPSS Version 23) and presented using tables and charts. The study established that levels of indiscipline are high amongst students who manifest incidences of violence against colleagues; strikes and school riots, theft, teenage pregnancies, truancy, poor performance and breaking of school rules and regulations. Students who abuse drugs end up suffering from intoxication and thus suffer memory loss, anger and emotions, loss of consciousness, impaired coordination and dizziness. Intoxicated students end up engaging in disciplined acts at school. Students who are addicted to drugs and substances manifest lack of focus, loss of interest in their studies, truancy and absenteeism and lack of concentration. Drug and substance abuse lead to depression amongst students who exhibit mood swings, feelings of isolation, sadness, withdrawal, lack of energy and hostility. This situation leads students to flip into indiscipline acts and undesirable behavior patterns. Thus, the study recommends that secondary schools should be motivated to take up course on Life Skills since they are the custodians of students’ behavior. Students should be advised on the dangers of drug abuse. Parents should partner with secondary schools in combating drug abuse both at home and at school. Teachers should be advised to desist from hands-off attitude when it comes to combating drug abuse amongst their students. The government should formulate a regulation to ensure stricter implementation of policies against drug abuse in public secondary schools