A study of participatory processes used by headteachers to enhance student discipline in public secondary schools in Nairobi province

Abstract

The Problem Many secondary school headteachers have handled matters related to student discipline, such as election of prefects, formulation of school rules and penalties against students who infringe school rules, single-handely without involving other members of the school community such as teachers, students and parents. This has invariably resulted in riots, boycotts, sit ins and other unruly behavior from the students which have proved very expensive to the running of educational institutions. The purpose of this study was to examine the participatory processes used by headteachers to enhance student discipline in public secondary schools in Nairobi Province. The study also sought to determine the kinds of discipline problems experienced among secondary school students, the causes of those discipline problems and the processes which could be used to enhance discipline in secondary schools. The study further sought to find out the difference between the participatory processes used by headteachers to enhance student discipline and five independent variables. Literature Review Literature review was organized under the following sub-headings: Introduction, which dealt with the concept of discipline in the school setting; headteachers and discipline, which covered issues related to the handling of student discipline by headteachers; students and discipline, which-dealt with issues related