Identifying major behavioural problems of adolescennt students in secondary schools in Nakuru Municipality, Kenya

Abstract

The main concern of this study was to identify major behavioural problems of adolescent students in mixed-day secondary schools in Nakuru Municipality, Kenya. It attempted to establish the existence of these behavioural problems and how they are handled by teachers. More specifically, the study attempted to: a) Identify the existence of the following behavioural problems of truancy, drug abuse, promiscuity and deviance among adolescent students in secondary schools in Nakuru Municipality. b) To find out the consequences of adolescents' behavioural problems. c) To find out how teachers dealt with adolescents' behavioural problems. A descriptive survey was employed. The pilot study was carried out in one (1) mixed-day secondary school, which was not included in the study. Three (3) mixed-day secondary schools were randomly selected in Nakuru Municipality. Data were collected from these three (3) schools. . Three deputy headteachers, fifteen teachers from the Guidance and Counselling Department, sixty students (boys) and sixty students (girls) were selected to serve as subjects for the study. Questionnaires used for data collection were personally administered to teachers and students from the selected schools. Data collected were analysed by use of descriptive statistics. Results were presented in tables of frequency distributions and percentages. Results revealed that drug abuse, truancy, promiscuity and deviance exist among adolescent students. Drug abuse was the major problem exhibited by boys while, the problem related to love relationship was highest in girls. The study recommended that adolescent students' behavioural problems should be controlled by teachers, peers, local leaders, spiritual leaders and education officers