| dc.description.abstract | The purpose of this study was to investigate drug abuse and its influence on students' learning behaviour in secondary schools in Kericho District. The study also sought to determine whether there is any significant relationship between drug abuse in secondary schools and students' learning behaviour. The study further sought to find out types, causes, effects, methods of detecting, rehabilitating and preventive measures to drug abuse in secondary schools The study intended to provide useful information and recommendations for curbing drug abuse in secondary schools.
In this study a questionnaire and an interview schedule were used as research instruments The questionnaire targeted secondary school headteachers, teachers and students. The interview schedule was formulated for headteachers only. The headteachers' questionnaire had three (3) parts:- Part A which was made up of six (6) items sought for the demographic information (background) of the respondent and his or her school, part B had eleven (11) open ended items and part C consisted of six (6) point Likert scale rating system statements with five multiple responses given as strongly ...agree, agree, undecided, disagree and strongly disagree. The headteachers' interview schedule was made up of seven intensive items, which were particularly administered personally by the researcher.
The teachers' questionnaire was made up of three parts:- Part A had six items that sought the background of both the respondent and the school; part B had eleven open ended items and part C had eight point likert scale rating system
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statements. The students' questionaire was also composed of three parts:- Part A carried eight demographic items aimed at seeking for the information of both the school and and the respondent, Part B had eleven open ended items and Part C had seven statements presented in likert scale rating system form.
The design of the study was expost facto. A pilot exercise was randomly conducted in four secondary schools (one boys boarding and three mixed day secondary schools) which were predominant schools in Kericho District (refer to table 6). This was done to test the validity and reliability of the instruments. The responses to the items in the piloting exercise assisted the researcher to modify the research instruments accordingly. Some items were dropped while others were rewarded, 20 headteachers, 101 teachers and complete population of students were met. The sample and sampling procedures applied in the research study were stratified The main study was drawn from 20 headteachers, 101 teachers and 300 students
When a country l~~e Kenya is searching for direction in dealing with the nature, scope and extent of drug abuse that is growing at an alarming rate, serious reflection on the part of all Kenyans is required to resolve the problem. Preventive education and provision of information of programmes targeting the youth and the general public is one area that the NACADA should pursue. Families, communities and the government should enhance social responsibility and future prospects in controlling the abuse of drugs.
The concern that has been placed by Kenya and countries world wide in developing policies to prevent drug. abuse is not misplaced and should not be. derailed. Drug abuse as a problem require to be tackled in totality through multi .....:;
sectoral and disciplinary approaches that focused on the reduction of supplies,
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tight control measures, promotion of preventive measures and improvement of treatment and rehabilitation. The maintenance of discipline in schools is not the responsibility of teachers alone. It must be a shared responsibility of all stakeholders including parents and teachers. Maintenance of discipline must therefore be collectively owned. Drug abuse as just a cause of indiscipline in secondary schools should be a shared concern for all.
The ownership and sharing of the disciplinary process is especially critical when determining the type of punishment to be meted out on drug abusers
Empirical observations indicate that much progress has been achieved when students, teachers and parents participate in the disciplinary machinery.
Contemporary society is in flux. It is subject to impingement and bombardment by powerful forces for example the spread of illegal drugs which impact on the established institutions. The study established that some of the external forces which are escalating drug abuse are poverty and nsmg unemployment which generate a sense of despair on the part of the students. Behaviour charge caused by drug abuse increase violence, lead to disregard for authority and moral decadence being motivated by the glorification of foreign norms and values.
The findings of this study were that drug abuse is a predisposing co-factor to the influences like stealing, bullying, riots/strikes, promiscuity, truancy, cheating, absenteeism from school, laziness, a don't caring spirit, rudeness to teachers and noise making The study also established, that the educational enlcrpnse IS being
managed in an environment consisting of many dichotomies
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For example the students are expected to be disciplined In a systematic manner at school, yet discipline is sometimes lacking at home The normative values prevailing in the school sometimes differ from those found at home, which cause confusion and indecisiveness among students.
The findings also showed that idleness, mass media influence, peer influence, frustrations and lack of parental care or absence of parents were the causes of drug abuse.
The behaviour by which indiscipline is expressed is not formed instantaneously when students come in contact with teachers. Such behaviour has developed over time and is a creation of parents and the broad social cultural environment The school only provides an environment through which behaviours developed early in life are expressed. Headteachers and teachers should know that it is not consistent with logic to demand discipline when one is not disciplined It is not logical to condemn drug abuse when one is an alcoholic It is not logical to condemn erratic or irrational behaviuor when one is unable to exercise self -
control, or resist temptations to engage in destructive practices. One should live in
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an exemplary life that is worth emulating. In addition, discipline is maintained by
regular reinforcement. This is done by instilling virtues such as hard work, care for others, respect of self, recognition of authority, love of ones society and
country.
In order to inspire students, teachers must reclaim In thei r roles as mentors. The mentor must train and guide by example (83 8~/o)and should be recognized as a source of authority, knowledge and, moral guidance.
Parents too, must reclaim their roles, of guiding and counselling their children (70%) and not to assume that teachers can effectively play both roles of monitoring and teaching. Parents must re-assert themselves in the parenting process, SInce fundamentally, the home is the base of either discipline or indiscipline.
Drug abuse is a dangerous and harmful practice to human health and life. Educators, parents and agencies should be actively involved in applying all the necessary preventive measures that curb the spread of drug abuse in the institutions of learning. Drug abuse influences learning behaviuor and destabilizes peace in secondary schools.
Youth (students) should be made aware of the dangers contained in the abuse of illicit drugs. Guidance and counseling is the best tool that should be used to stop the hazardous habit.
Dispensing corrective measures require proper training of counselors with
a potential to identify needs and weaknesses among the students. It is not only
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with firm and steady hands that headteachers, teachers and counselors maintain
discipline, but also with clear heads and loving sensitive hearts There is need to conduct research on ways in which drugs are accessed or smuggled to schools; to educate headteachers, teachers and parents on how to detect drug abusers among students and to know how to assist them to refrain from this dangerous habit. | en |
