| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of drug and substance abuse on discipline among students in Technical Training Institutes in Nairobi county. Four research questions and objectives were formulated to guide the study. The study objectives were to identify various drugs and substances commonly abused by students, to establish discipline problems resulting from drug and substance abuse among students, to determine the extent to which drug and substance abuse among students affects their class attendance and to identify the administrative strategies used to prevent and control the use of drug and substance abuse among students in the Technical training institutes.
The study used a descriptive survey design. Questionnaires and interview guides were the research instruments. The sample size of the study consisted of 4 principals, 4 Heads of guidance and counseling, 40 teachers and 380 students from four technical training institutions in Nairobi County. Content validity was determined with expert help from lecturers in rhe department, while reliability of the instruments was done using the test- retest technique. A correlation coefficient of 0.7 was determined using the Pearson's Product Moment formula. Questionnaires were personally administered on agreed date and collected immediately they were filled in. The data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences and was presented in bar graphs, pie charts, and tables.
The study findings showed that most of the students(175(60.6%) in Technical training institutes had abused drugs. The findings of the study indicated that commonly used drugs are alcohol, miraa, Tobacco/Cigarettes and marijuana. The study also found out that there is influence of drugs and substance abuse on discipline among students, (59.9%) were of the opinion that drug taking contributes to most of the indiscipline cases in the Technical institutes.
The findings of the study reviewed that drug and substance abuse among students affects the class attendance in Technical Training Institutes. About 59.5% of students are involved in truancy and absenteeism. Students and teachers rarely hold forums through which issues of drug and substance. Guidance and counselling was the main strategy used by the institutes in dealing with issues of drug and substance abuse.
The study conclusions were made based on the findings that drug and substance abuse is rampant in Technical training institutes and there is need for stringent measures to be undertaken to address the challenges in order to reduce the effects caused on student behaviour, moral and social interactions as well as overall performance.
Therefore the researcher recommends that all policy makers including Ministry of education in collaboration with other government agencies like Nacada should set up suitable programs that can be used to educate the youth.
The Institutes should strengthen their rules and regulations so that the students can attend classes as required. The government should effectively and vigorously enforce laws governing sale of alcohol and tobacco to youth including using underage youth to buy alcohol and tobacco products. Moral guidance should be provided to the youth through involvement in church activities and community work during their leisure time while at home. The study suggested that a nationwide study be carried out to determine the status of drug and substance abuse. A study should controlling drug and substance abuse. | |
