Discipline management and control as perceived by students in Kalama division of Machakos district

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to find out discipline management and control as perceived by students in Kalama Division of Machakos District. The study sought to find out the students perception of discipline management and control in schools. The study sought to establish whether there was any relationship between the students' control and their age. The study also tried to establish if there is any relationship between the student's perception of discipline management and control and the student's class, and the type of the school. Of importance to this study was also the students feelings towards the mode of disciplinary methods used by the school principals and as to whether these methods were fair to all the students. The student's perception on the leadership styles of the principal's and their relationship to discipline management was also sought. The study tried to find out whether there was any relationship between the principal's personal contact or lack of it with the students and discipline management and control in the schools. Sought also was the relationship between the school code of conduct and regulation and their relationship to discipline control and management. Finally the study also tried to find out if there has been guidance and counselling in these schools as a method of discipline control and management. Of importance to find out also was the student's opinion on some of the disciplinary methods, which should be stopped in schools. Therefore, the students were asked some of those methods. Sought also was the students suggestion on the method that can be used to improve discipline in schools. The literature review was organized thematically under the following headings: 1. The concept of perception 2. The concept of management 3. Discipline control in secondary schools 4. Head teacher's leadership style. The study was carried out in selected public secondary schools in Kalama division of Machakos district. The number of schools used was seven plus three, which were used for piloting. The target population was 335 students. Questionnaires were used as the sole instrument for data collection of information required for the study. From the findings of the study it was established that the students perception of methods used the management and control of discipline in school was negative. The following recommendations were made based on the results of the study: 1. That there is an urgent need to try to change the student's perception of discipline if the schools are to be secure for both the students and their teachers. 2. There is need to provide guidance and counselling services in schools in order to have people coming in to talk to the sludents who have discipline problems. 3. It was suggested for further research that research should be done on the acceptable methods of punishment in schools. It was suggested that a study be carried out to determine the perception of teachers on discipline management and control in schools. Further suggestions for study were made on the attitudes of teachers towards the banning of corporal punishment in schools and finally that this study should be carried out in other parts of the country to confirm the resuIts.