Developing Moral Values in Primary School Pupils in Kenya
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Date
2018
Authors
Itegi, Florence M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Moral development is a complex effort to create
an environment that enhances an individual‘s movement
through stages of moral reasoning. This occurs in the
context of interplay of factors like attitudes, beliefs and
other external factors, such as peer, parental, and media
influences. Furthermore, children acquire a wide range of
behaviours, thoughts and feelings through observing oth-
ers‘ behaviour (Bandura, 1997). Kenya like many other
countries of the world has experienced rapid technologi-
cal, economic and social changes which have overwhelm-
ing effects on both the individual behaviour and the soci-
ety. Despite this awareness the pursuit of academic
knowledge in primary schools continue to be viewed as
more important and distinct from the acquisition and
application of moral values. This paper examines the fac-
tors influencing moral development among pupils and
scrutinizes impediments within and outside the schools
that impact negatively on learners‘ behaviour in public
primary schools in. The study used ex post facto design
adopting both qualitative and quantitative approaches.
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Both multi-stage and random sampling techniques were
used to select 100 pupils and 30 teachers. A question-
naire, an interview schedule an observation protocol to
gather data on the general school environment were used
Quantitative data were analysed and presented in per-
centages, frequency tables, and graphs and qualitative
data were grouped into themes or categories, establishing
connections and comparing them. The study found that
parenting, urbanization, school environment, pupil char-
acteristics impacted negatively on moral development
among pupils. Consequently, pupils exhibited problem
behaviours such as sexual relations, abusive language,
gossiping, disobedience, indiscipline, disrespect, rude-
ness, dishonesty, conflicts, and bad groups as indicators
of low moral status. The study recommends more learn-
ers‘ centred methods such as guidance and counselling,
seminars, modelling, proper parenting, collaboration,
pastoral care, strict rules, and teaching of moral values
to be intensified to improve moral development among
pupils.
Description
Research article
Keywords
Moral Values, Kenyan education system, Kenya
Citation
Itegi, F. M. (2013). Developing Moral Values in Primary School Pupils in Kenya. Msingi Journal, 1(1), 409-437.