Developing Moral Values in Primary School Pupils in Kenya

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.