Principals’ Administrative Practices Curbing of Drug and Substance Abuse in Public Secondary Schools in Busia County, Kenya

Abstract

The study sought to determine whether significant differences existed between principals who supported peer education, mentoring programmes, invitation of exaddicts, student searches as well as collaboration with National Authority Control Against Drug and Substance Abuse as opposed to those who did not support the indicated administrative practices. The study utilized descriptive survey design and the target population of students was 30,745. Out of 30,745, 420 students formed sample size for the study from 35 schools, 35 principals, five Education Officers for focus group discussion and 35 guidance and counselling teachers totaling to 495 respondents. The instruments used were questionnaires for students and guidance and counselling teachers, interview guide for principals and focus group discussion. The computer programme on Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for the analysis. The study had a return rate of 401 students (95.4%), 35 principals (100%), 35 (100%) Heads of Guidance and five (100%) Education Officers. Levene’s t –test for equality of variances and means was used for independent and dependent samples to determine whether significant differences existed between schools on curbing of drug and substance abuse. The study established that schools which had peer education had a significant difference on the Curbing of drug and substance abuse hence compared to those which do not have peer education. Similarly, schools which have mentoring programmes had significant differences on Curbing of drug and substance abuse hence experience higher levels on Curbing of drug and substance abuse compared to those schools which did not have mentoring programmes. Also, the schools which invited ex-addicts to talk to the students on Curbing of drug and substance abuse had significant difference on levels of Curbing of drug and substance abuse compared to those schools which did not have hence have higher levels on Curbing of drug and substance abuse. The schools which use students searches have significant difference on levels of Curbing of drug and substance abuse compared to those schools which do not have student searches. The schools which collaborate with NACADA have significant difference on Curbing of drug and substance abuse compared to those schools which do not collaborate with NACADA. This meant that there are lower cases reported on drug and substance abuse in the schools which collaborate with NACADA. The study concluded that significant differences existed between schools based on their principals’ administrative practices (peer education, mentoring programmes, invitation of ex-addicts, student searches as well as collaboration with National Authority Control Against Drug and Substance Abuse) and the level of curbing drug and substance abuse in schools. Where the principals engaged in the cited practices, cases of drug and substance abuse were lower. The study recommends that all the cited administrative practices be made part of a regular audit of schools to ensure that drug and substance abuse cases are curbed. The principals should strive involve their surrounding communities in the fight against drug and substance abuse among students in secondary schools. The Ministry of Education Science and Technology in conjunction with the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development should explore integrating more relevant content on drug and substance abuse in secondary school curriculum. The Ministry of Education should enhance training opportunities for psychological and career counsellors. The Teachers Service Commission should make a point to post teacher counselors in every school and with a reduced workload to enable them to discharge their counselling roles.