Influence of alternative disciplinary measures on students' discipline in public secondary schools in Nyandarua South Sub-County, Kenya
Abstract
For any learning to take place discipline of the learners and teachers is quite
important. The purpose of this study was to investigate the implementation of
alternative disciplinary measures on students’ discipline in public secondary
schools after ban of corporal punishment in Nyandarua south sub-county. The
objectives were; to determine how use of guidance and counseling influence
students’ discipline in public secondary schools; to establish how suspension of
students influence discipline in public secondary schools; to examine the extent to
which manual work influences students’ discipline in public secondary schools
and to determine the extent to which monetary fines control students discipline in
public secondary schools. McGregor’s (1960) Theory X and Y was used as the
basis for the study. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. From a
target population of 217 teachers in 24public secondary schools, a sample of 15
principals, 15 deputy principals and 75 teachers was drawn. The District
Education Officer also participated in the study. Questionnaires and interview
schedule were used as research instruments. Findings indicated that indiscipline
cases were still a common phenomenon in public secondary schools. The study
also revealed that there were significant relationship between variables such as
age, gender, teaching experience and academic qualification of teachers and the
alternative disciplinary measures used. The study findings from the principals
and deputy principals indicated that; guidance and counseling programme
enhance students’ discipline by building courage and moral uprightness thereby
inculcating good value and positive attitude toward development of self
discipline. The majority of the principals and deputy principals agreed or strongly
agreed that manual work is used as an alternative disciplinary measure in
secondary schools. Suspension reinforces misbehavior rather than prevent it.
Inspite of implementation of alternative disciplinary measures the discipline of
students is not improving. The study also revealed guidance and counselling as an
alternative disciplinary measure was not effective since it was handled by
untrained personnel’s. The study recommended that the ministry of education
should sponsor workshops annually to train teachers on alternative disciplinary
measures that are not abusive to provide additional instruction to principal and
deputy principals regarding the harm of corporal punishment and the alternatives
to corporal punishment. Ensure that those conducting guidance and counseling
programs for students receive professional training and oversight.
Publisher
University of Nairobi
Description
Thesis
Collections
- Faculty of Education (FEd) [6020]