Challenges faced by head teachers in the management of students’ indiscipline in public secondary schools in Lamu County

Abstract

The study investigated the challenges faced by headteachers in the management of indiscipline in public secondary schools in Lamu County. Students discipline is critical to the attainment of positive school outcomes. Lack of it makes a mockery of the stated important goals that secondary school education is supposed to achieve. Poor performance of secondary school students in both academic and co-curriculum activities in Lamu County can largely be blamed on indiscipline. The study set out to determine the prevalent indiscipline problems among secondary school students in Lamu County, causes of indiscipline among the students, methods employed by headteachers in dealing with indiscipline and finally challenges faced in managing indiscipline. Descriptive survey design was used in this study. The study sample comprised of 10 secondary schools out of the 17 public secondary schools in the county. It also included 10 headteachers, 10 deputy headteachers, 20 teachers of guidance and counseling and games and 40 student leaders of the sampled schools. This sample was arrived at using stratified sampling procedures. The researcher collected the data himself through the use of questionnaires, interview guide and observation schedule as research tools. There were three sets of questionnaires, for headteachers, teachers, and the student leaders. Interview was done with the headteachers and their deputies. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The latest version of SPSS was used in analyzing the quantitative data. The qualitative data was informative in explaining and clarifying the quantitative data from questionnaires. Frequencies and percentages were used to summarize the data. Findings were presented using frequency distribution tables. The study identified the prevalent indiscipline problems in Lamu County as being absenteeism, rudeness to teachers and fighting among students among others. Poor relationship between teachers and students and parental negligence were cited as the major causes of indiscipline. There was an emphasis on guidance and counselling and the need for the school administration and teachers to create a conducive environment for learning, as effective ways of dealing with indiscipline. Student‟s failure to adhere to school rules and regulations and lack of parental support in disciplining of students were the main challenges faced in managing indiscipline. The study findings have unearthed issues concerning the research problem that were not known before forming a firm foundation for tackling the indiscipline problems in secondary schools in Lamu County. Out of the measures the schools take to reduce indiscipline in schools, the study recommended that schools address students‟ concerns, encourage parents to play their roles and embrace guidance and counseling in dealing with students indiscipline.