The influence of Board of Governors on students' discipline in public secondary schools in Kilungu District, Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to establish the influence of BOG members on students discipline in secondary schools; it was guided by five objectives which include; to identify the main causes of indiscipline in public secondary schools in Kilungu District, To establish whether BOG in-service training has influence on student discipline, To establish the effect of the BOG members occupation on students discipline, To establish the effect of BOG personal characteristics (age, gender and academic qualification) on students discipline and to seek respondents suggestion on how to improve the effectiveness of BOG on students discipline.

The study applied survey research design; the target population included all public secondary schools in Kilungu district, particularly focusing on the HOD guidance and counseling, the Principals and the BOG members. The data was collected by use of a questionnaire and document analysis at the DEOs office. Through data analysis the study revealed that: more BOG members are males. The study also revealed that 60% of BOG members are business persons while 20% are farmers, the rest 10% are retired teachers and 4% medical practitioners.

On the matters of types of indiscipline cases the most frequent indiscipline cases include, stealing, sneaking out of school, noise making in classes, drug taking, bullying, fighting and unhealthy relations between boys and girls. These indiscipline cases are attributed to lack of commitment by the students rated at 90%), lack of BOG commitment 70%, lack of proper guidance by the parents 70%, drug abuse and poor leadership by the principal 50% and finally lack of guidance and counseling in school.

The study concluded that indiscipline cases exist in secondary schools. This is despite the fact that BOG was constituted to deal with discipline matters. The inefficiency of the BOG on matters of discipline in schools is attributed to the characteristics of BOG members, according to the study a small percentage of BOG members with university education while majority are business persons who have no professional training.

The study recommends that selection of BOG should be based on merit and they should be meeting regularly to discuss discipline cases in school. The BOG members should also be trained on matters pertaining to students' discipline. The study further suggested the study to be conducted on the same but focusing on the whole country in order to have a national appeal on influence of BOG members on students discipline in secondary schools.