Browsing by Author "Kithinji, Carolyne Miriko"

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    Efficacy of Disciplinary Measures Used in Curbing Deviant Behavior among Students in Secondary Schools in Murang’a County, Kenya
    (Kenyatta University, 2025-05) Kithinji, Carolyne Miriko
    Deviance is a rampant problem in schools worldwide which has rendered the schools unsafe for normal academic activities and therefore these deviant acts are now of a great concern to school authorities and parents. Effective classroom learning cannot occur unless teachers are able to develop and implement effective discipline and management systems. Since good discipline brings good results in every school endeavor it is important to put up effective measures for curbing deviance. To realize this purpose, this study investigated the effectiveness of disciplinary measures put in place for curbing deviance among students in secondary schools in Kandara Sub county, Murang’a County. The study also sought to suggest possible and effective strategies for curbing deviant behavior among secondary schools in Murang’a County. The study was guided by assertive discipline theory by Marlene Canter. The sample size comprised of 10 public secondary schools out of 53 public secondary schools in Kandara sub-county of Murang’a County. The sample size was purposively selected. Primary data was collected using questionnaires and focus group discussions. The questionnaire was administered to 100 teachers and 200 students in form three. The questionnaires contained both open- ended and structured questions. Research findings were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The latest version 20 of SPSS was used in analyzing the quantitative data. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically. Findings were presented using frequency distribution tables. Study findings revealed that disciplinary measures used in different schools vary to a greater extent and they include both the recommended and the harmful ones. The study also revealed that caning students takes place in schools despite the government ban of corporal punishment. Moreover, the guidance and counseling unit was found to be non-functional in some schools. Study highlighted the major challenges faced by teachers in curbing deviant behaviors were non-cooperative parents and students, lack of support from society and administration. In addition, students’ negative perception and development of avoidance behaviors was also identified as a major threat towards efficiency of disciplinary measures used. Therefore, this study makes a major recommendation to the ministry of education to come up a clearly defined behavior policy to control students’ behavior in school. The study also recommended the strengthening of guidance, counseling, and sensitizing parents on the importance of discipline to the education of their children. Finally, students’ involvement and reinforcement was also recommended. In summary, the key beneficiaries of this study work are the stakeholders in the Ministry of Education to initiate in-service training geared to equip teachers with the necessary effective methods of handling students deviant behavior in secondary schools and educate them on the methods which are not effective like suspension as the study reveals