A study of disciplinary problems in some selected schools in Mwingi District, Kenya

Abstract

It was the aim of the researcher to study the problems of indiscipline affecting selected secondary schools in Mwingi District, Kenya. In order to achieve this, research questions and objectives were developed. First, the researcher studied the common recorded problems of indiscipline experienced in the selected secondary schools. Second, the researcher identified the measures used by school administrators on students with indiscipline problems in the secondary schools. Third, the researcher established that the schools with most indiscipline problems experienced a decline in K.C.S.E exams. Schools that had few indiscipline problems achieved higher mean scores in national examinations than those with more cases of indiscipline. In order to acquire data related to the research questions, a questionnaire was prepared, validated and administrated. The captured data was then analyzed and several deductions were made. The researcher established that the problem of indiscipline in students was rife in Mwingi District. Each school had various numbers of cases of indiscipline reported per week. In addition, the rate of cases of indiscipline was varying in nature, though common in most schools. The researcher also found that cases of indiscipline, expulsion were more in boys' schools and in mixed schools than in girls' schools. In addition, girls' schools had improved performance in national examinations while boys' schools recorded a decline. The researcher also established that schools that had a high number of cases of indiscipline attained lower mean grades, recorded declining indexes in national examinations. For some schools, the declining performance was significant while others, it was not significant.