Influence Og Principal` Use of Guidance and Counselling on Students Discipline in Public and Secondary Schools, in Bondo Sub - County, Siaya County, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the principals‟ use of guidance and counseling on public secondary schools students‟ discipline in Bondo Sub-County, Siaya County. The study objectives were to determine extent to which: principal‟s support to teachers training in guidance and counseling, principal‟s provision of counseling resource and facilities, principal‟s sensitization on students to use guidance and counseling services and principal‟s use of peer counseling influence students discipline in public secondary schools in Bondo Sub-county. The study adopted the X and Y Theory. The study was conducted using descriptive survey design. The study targeted 298 peer counselors, 49 principals, and 49 HODs guidance and counseling from the 49 public secondary schools in Bondo sub-county. Stratified random sampling was used schools in based on school type (boys, girls and mixed schools), the schools totaling to 17 schools. Census sampling was used to select 17 principals and 17 HoDs from the sampled schools. Purposive sampling was used to select six peer counselors from the sampled schools totaling to 102 peer counselors. The research instruments for this study were questionnaires. Collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics while qualitative data was transcribed and content analysis was done. The study findings indicated that majority of the teacher in public secondary schools were not yet supported to train in guidance and counseling because principals organize teachers‟ training in guidance and counseling randomly. The findings reveal that provision of reference books and furniture including desks and chairs used during guidance and counseling were very satisfactory though, provision of other resources like motion film projectors, audio cassettes recorders and video cassette recorders were not available. The results revealed that principals agreed that they have put up measures to improve the counselling atmosphere in their schools. Thus, many students prefer visiting peer counsellors for counselling sessions rather than counselling teachers due to intimidation and victimization. According to the findings school has trained students to assist their peers in guidance and counseling concerns. Students willingly seek peer counseling services from appointed peer counselors. The study concludes that many secondary school principals encourage their teachers to undertake counseling courses as career development strategies rather than facilitating them with training as a measure to manage student‟s discipline. Many schools lacked G&C rooms that offer privacy during sessions reducing the likelihood of students trusting in counseling teachers. It showed lack of emphasizes on provision of essential facilities and resources reduce the use of G& C as an effective strategy for discipline management in secondary schools. Principals encourage students to use guidance and counseling in secondary school. The study recommends that secondary school principals should draw tentative programmes to ensure regular trainings for teachers of guidance and counseling. This will increase the number of teachers with appropriate skills to manage students‟ discipline using counseling service. The researcher recommends a study on student discipline in relation to parent or guardian upbringing to be carried out.