Influence Of Peer Pressure On Form Two Students’ Discipline In Public Secondary Schools (A Case Of Embakasi Sub-County – Nairobi, Kenya)

Abstract

purpose of this study was to establish the influence of peer pressure on Form two students’ discipline in Embakasi Sub-County, Nairobi-Kenya. The study was guided by four objectives which included; finding out to what extent drug abuse influences the form two students discipline, to establish how social media influences the form two students’ discipline, to identify the extent to which risky attitude influences the form two students’ discipline and to determine how peer judgment and evaluation influence the form two students’ discipline in Embakasi Sub County. The researcher developed research questions to gather information in order to meet the objectives of the study. The researcher applied descriptive survey research design. Data was collected by use of selfadministered questionnaires and analyzed based on descriptive statistical method using percentages. The target population consisted of 700 students an average of 100 students per school and 7 guidance and counseling teachers making a total of 707 respondents. A sampled population of 70 form two students, with 10 students from each school plus the 7 guidance and counseling teachers from each school making a total of 77 respondents was selected using random sampling technique. The data was analyzed using frequencies and percentages presented in tables and graphs and then discussed. From the study findings, factors that contributed to student discipline as revealed by the study were social reasons such as peer pressure, socialization and drug abuse. This shows that majority of the students abused drugs in order to be accepted among their peers. This led to negative change in behavior in school. In view of the above, there is need to strengthen and enforce the school rules and regulations, strengthen guidance and counseling department, train the teachers with skills of countering new trends of student’s indiscipline. This would go a long way in reducing occurrence of indiscipline cases hence creating a conducive learning environment for the students. The findings indicated that 44.3% of the students understood peer pressure. This clearly indicated that most of the students did not have proper information on the peer influence they were facing in school. The most commonly abused drug by form two students were cigarettes with 33% , alcohol with 40% and Kuber with 33%. Drug taking, fighting and absenteeism were rated highly by students as contributors to student indiscipline. The findings indicated that media encourages irresponsible sexual behaviour as indicated by 64% of the respondents who strongly agreed. Social media being the most commonly used media especially among the students, posed great risks to its users thus calling for a greater involvement of the guidance and counseling teachers.57.7% felt that sometimes they don’t use independent judgment. This shows that, some people don’t even know when they are making decisions whether they are based on peer pressure or independent. Peer counselors are crucial because they teach others the positive aspects of behaviour. They enlighten their fellow peers on the dangers of negative peer influence and how to choose friends wisely. Based on the findings of the study, the researcher suggests further study could be done on measures schools can take to curb deviant behaviours associated with peer pressure whether lack of parental involvement is a contributing factor that makes peer pressure influence students behaviour among secondary school students and any other social factor that can impact on the behaviour of students in secondary schools.