A study of the causes and effects of bullying in public secondary schools in Mwea division, Mbeere district, Kenya.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the causes and effects of bullying in public secondary schools in Mwea Division, Mbeere District. Parents, teachers and pupils are concerned about bullying in schools. The safety of students in schools is no longer guaranteed. A study in this area was therefore justified. The study was done within the framework of the sociological theory of role-taking expounded by Herbert Mead. Basically the moulding of an individual's personality is the interplay of factors in the school, the home and the society. Bullying activities are carried out by people who have a bullying personality. The selection of Mwea Division, Mbeere District, was through purposive sampling. Being largely a rural locality and being well served by transport means, it was considered ideal for the study. Above all, the vice in the district is on the rise. The study started by establishing whether the problem is experienced in schools or not. It then considered the locale of bullying, the methods of bullying, the relationship between the gender of students and methods of bullying used, the effects of bullying and measures that could be taken to stamp it out The study was designed as an ex-post facto study. The target population consisted of 465 Form Three Students in 10 public secondary schools, principals, teachers, parents and local residents. The instruments of research that were used included questionnaires, interviews, observations and focus group discussions. The data collected was analyzed by the use of frequency tables, percentages, pie charts and graphs. The study produced several findings with regard to such aspects of bullying as prevalence, causes, locale, methods, effects and eradication. These are summarized in Chapter Five section 5.2. The study came up with a number of recommendations for policy implementation and for further research. Among the recommendations for policy implementation was the need for good supervision coverage at all times. And the study concluded that the recommendations proposed are implementable. For further research the study recommended replication of this study in other divisions. It also recommended studies of bullying in single sex public secondary schools as well as studies employing participant observers as research instruments. In conclusion, stringent measures must be put in place in order to eradicate the vice in schools.