Factors leading to the increase in undesirable social behaviour among students in selected Nairobi secondary schools

Abstract

This study was an attempt to find out factors leading to the increase of undesirable behaviours among students in selected secondary schools in Nairobi. Nairobi was chosen as the location for this study due to its cosmopolitan nature, easy access to a variety of school, Ministry of Education offices, and the presence of the behaviours studied which tend to be more pronounced in urban areas. The survey method was used in the study. Five secondary schools from Nairobi Province formed the sample. From the schools, 185 form three students, 20 parents, 6 headteachers, 5 guidance and counseling teachers and 18 classteachers who were randomly selected participated in the study.

The justification for this is that in spite of the many efforts expended in dealing with known undesirable student behaviours in schools, they continue to increase. The increase is leading to a great deal of wastage of material resources, manpower, and even human life. It is imperative therefore that factors leading to this state of affairs be established and solutions found in order to arrest the situation.

This was a survey study and therefore the questionnaire, interview and observation schedules were used as research instruments to collect data on factors leading to the increase in undesirable behaviours among students in secondary schools. The data collected wee analyzed using basic descriptive statistics.

The study is organized into five chapters. Chapter one starts with introduction, background to the problem, statement of the problem, research questions, objectives of the study, definition of operational terms, significance of the study, assumptions of the study, limitations of the study, organization of the study and theoretical framework. Chapter two deals with review of literature that is related to the study. Chapter three discusses methods of research and analysis of data while chapter four presents data analysis and discussion of findings. Chapter five comprises the conclusions, policy recommendations and suggestions for further research.

Data analysis revealed an increase in physical violence, drug abuse and premarital sex among students in secondary schools in Nairobi. Factors leading to this increase were handled under different sub-headings.

First, the increase in physical violence was as a result of students' internalizing communal violence, hopelessness, mass media, poor administration and adolescence. Second, those factors leading to an increase in drug abuse were peer pressure, students' social background, and the mass media, while, third, premarital sex increased due to peer pressure to indulge in sex, ignorance about sex, the mass media and the combination of adolescence and hopelessness.

The continuous decline in the national moral fabric will inevitably lead to the stagnation and even eventual collapse of the school system, which will then affect all other areas of national life. The future of Kenya as a nation risks becoming doomed granted the fact that the leadership and resources of the nation will be in the hands of today's students.

To forestall this eventuality, concerted efforts in guidance and counseling for students, better training for guidance and counseling teachers, education of students on the need for positive behavioural change through all available means will be necessary. Persons, institutions and facilities that could help to stem and even eliminate this trend towards self-destruction should be utilized urgently.