Effect of Home Related Factors on Students Discipline in Public Secondary Schools in Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

Discipline is important for order and realization of set goals in any school. Parenting plays a significant role in students‟ behaviour and discipline. This study sought to establish influence of democratic, authoritarian, indulgent and detached parenting styles shown by variation in parental control, supervision, communication, parent-child relationship on students‟ discipline in public secondary schools in Nairobi County. The study was guided by Social Learning Theory by Albert Bandura (1986) and Rational Choice Theory by George Hamas (1961). The study used ex post facto survey design. The target population in the study consisted of 46,858 students from where a sample of 381 was drawn using Krejcie and Morgan Table (1970) then stratified, proportionate and random sampling used to sample 146 students from Boys boarding, 138 students from Girls boarding and 95 students from mixed day schools, 90 class teachers, 29 deputy principals and Head of Guidance and Counseling Department and 30 parents. Questionnaires and interview guides were used to collect data from students and teachers while interview guides were used to collect data from H.O.Ds guidance and counseling, deputy principals and parents. Split half method used to test reliability gave a coefficient of 0.8. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages and cross tabulations were use to summarize data. Findings revealed that detached parenting practices had most negative, while democratic style had the least negative influence on students‟ discipline. It was noted that problems emanating from students‟ homes such as frequent fights between parents, drugs and substance abuse, divorce and separation caused anxiety, lack of concentration and indiscipline which strategies of discipline management were unable to unearth and address. The study recommends preparation of manuals by Ministry of Education to sensitize parents on their roles in students discipline both at home and at school. BOM, principals, teachers and students should be sensitized by KEMI on best ways of incorporating parents in students discipline management. Frequent training of principals, deputies, Guidance and counseling and class teachers on current challenges and expectations of students‟ discipline be done regularly .Also that guidance and counseling personnel should be posted on full time basis in schools. Finally, similar studies should be replicated in other counties to compare findings, establish effect of father absence in students‟ discipline and gain students‟ perspective on effective methods of discipline in schools.