Influence of students` involvement in decision making process on discipline in public secondary schools in Kitui central district, Kitui county,Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of student’s involvement in decision making on discipline in public schools in Kitui Central District, Kenya. Four research objectives guided the study. The study employed a descriptive survey design. The sample for the study was 260 prefects, nine principals and 9 deputy principals. The main research instrument that was used in this study was questionnaires. Data was analysed using SPSS computer software. Findings on the students’ involvement in the planning of school co curricular revealed that there were various co curricular activities in the schools. Findings also indicated that students were involved in the formulation of school rules and regulations. Based in the findings, the study concluded that students participated in school decision making process. It was also concluded that students play a very crucial role in school management through participating in different decision making processes. The study also concluded that the schools involved the students in decision making process regarding extracurricular activities. The study concluded that majority of the respondents indicated that the students themselves decided which extracurricular activities to participate. The findings further indicates that majority of the students were given the chance to air out their suggestions with only few disagreeing that students are given the chance to suggest on how to improve on extracurricular activities. The study also concludes that meaningful student involvement in decision making process engages students as decision-makers, who partner with educators to make decisions throughout schools, in areas that affect their individual learning as well as the entire school community. In view of the findings the study recommended that students should be encouraged by the school managers to participate in decision making process in their respective schools, in different aspects including decision on school uniform, rules and regulations, leadership, academic work, time table, extracurricular activities. The school administration should consider students’ opinions raised in different forums in decision making formulation and implementation in different aspects concerning the school management. Taking the limitations and delimitations of the study it was suggested that a similar study can be carried out in different geographical areas to investigate the influence of students’ involvement in decision making process in both private and public schools and how they influence discipline. A comparative study of students’ involvement or lack of it in decision making process and how they influence discipline in schools can be conducted.