Effects of drug abuse on pupils' performance in public primary schools in Langata Division, Nairobi, Kenya

Abstract

Drug abuse among pupils in schools is an issue of global concern (Levine2007). The study therefore explored effects of drug abuse on pupils' academic performance in public primary schools in Langata Division, Nairobi. This is after realization that majority of the pupils were not doing well academically in public schools in the division. Objectives of this study were: (1) To examine prevalence of drug abuse and its effects on academic performance in public primary schools in Langata Division. (2) To identify causes of drug abuse in public primary schools in Langata division (3) To analyze communities attitude towards drug abuse among public primary pupils in relation to academic performance in Langata division. (4) To establish the effectiveness of strategies in the use in fighting drug abuse in public primary schools in Langata Division.

The study used a descriptive survey design in methodology. Target population included pupils in upper primary school and class teachers in the sampled primary schools in the division who were set to help establish causes and effects of drug abuse on academic performance. The study used simple random sampling to come up with sample units of 10 public primary schools, purposely sample 10 children already abusing drugs and 10 without history of drug abuse with the help of guidance and counseling teachers in each class thus giving 20 pupils in each school and a total of 200 in sampled schools, guidance and counseling teachers were purposely sampled for the study.

Research instruments used to collect data included interview guide and questionnaires. Descriptive statistics such as percentages and frequencies were used to describe population characteristics such as demography, income, occupation and education. Statistical analysis will include T - tests and Pearson correlation. The researcher used SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) version 11.5 for windows to process the collected data.

The study found out that: Abuse of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana, mostly accessed in the village, at home, and at school is widely prevalent in public schools in Langata division; Drug abuse in public schools in Langata is caused by curiosity, peer pressure, family dysfunction, media fad, and easy accessibility of drugs; Drug abuse in public schools in Langata division is responsible for poor attentiveness in academics, violent conduct, and school dropout among affected pupils; despite the fact that the community's attitude towards drugs in Langata being negative, their attitude towards drug abusers is positive -as they are concerned with their (abusers) rehabilitation; guidance and counseling, facilitated by non- governmental organization is the prime strategy available to curb drug abuse in public schools in Langata.