Methods used to enhance students discipline in public secondary schools in Kamukunji division Nairobi province, Kenya

Abstract

There has been a wave of violence strikes that had threatened to paralyze learning in many Secondary Schools country wide. In the month of June 2007 over 300 strikes were reported. This saw students disrupt learning, besides destroying property worth millions of shilling. Indiscipline in schools had reached unmanageable levels, as teachers were unable to enforce discipline as their hands were tied by law as corporal punishment had been banned by the Government through legal notice No. 56 of 2001 in march. In light of this problem, the study aimed at identifying the discipline problem, among the students and effectiveness of the methods used in enhancing student discipline in public secondary schools in Kamukunji Division, Nairobi Kenya. The Study was carried out in Kamukunji Division, one of the eight Divisions found in Nairobi Province. Stratified random sampling was used to select the sample of schools, which include boys, girls and mixed schools. Three self - constructed questionnaires were used to gather data pertaining to the specific methods used in enhancing student discipline. Data analysis was done and it was found out that various types of indiscipline existed in the schools. They included truancy, drug abuse, absenteeism, sneaking, stealing and use of foul language. Methods used to deal with indiscipline included guiding and counseling, use of useful punishment (suspension) involving the ministry of education and effective communication with students. Since the study was limited to Kamukunji Division, it is recommended that a similar study be carried out in other divisions to elicit a more accurate national perception of enhancing student discipline. In depth research be carried out on effective ways of enhancing discipline. A study be carried out on the key causes of indiscipline in schools.