Influence of head teachers' leadership styles on students' discipline in public secondary schools in Rangwe Division, HomaBay District, Kenya

Abstract

Leadership is regarded as a single and most important factor in the success or failure of an organization's discipline endeavors and academic performance. The head teacher, more than any other individual is responsible for the school's climate, outcome and the satisfaction of teachers and students. However, why there are differences in students discipline from one school to another is still a bone of contention. This study sought to establish the influence of head teachers' leadership styles on students' discipline in public secondary schools in Rangwe Division, Homa Bay district.

The research objectives included establishing the causes of discipline problems in public secondary schools in Rangwe Division, influence of autocratic leadership styles on students' discipline, examining the influence of democratic leadership style on students' discipline and to establish the influence of laissez faire leadership style on students' discipline. The results of the study would be useful to the government in designing the curriculum on discipline problems in relation to leadership among other things. The study was guided by the Path Goal Theory developed by Robert House.

The research design used was descriptive survey design, focusing on public secondary schools in Rangwe Division. The target population of the study consisted of 10 head teachers, 70 teachers and 2000 students. The study employed stratified random sampling technique to select the schools, teachers and students. Research instruments in the study were own constructed questionnaires administered to head teachers, teachers and students. To ensure instrument validity, content validity was tested.

In this study, the test-retest method was used to determine how reliable data would be. Questionnaires were used as the main tool for collecting data. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and content analysis techniques. Among other findings the study established that discipline problems in public secondary schools in Rangwe Division were caused at equal levels by lack of freedom, too much work at school and inadequate facilities (20 percent each). On the other hand, food rationing was the major cause of indiscipline. It was deduced from most of the responses that the leadership styles of most of the head teachers (60 percent)of them was democratic while a considerable number also applied autocratic leadership style.

The study concluded that the leadership styles applied by head teachers greatly influenced students' discipline while autocratic leadership style contributed to indiscipline. The major recommendations were that schools need to ensure adequate provision offood for students to avert discipline cases; all forms of autocratic leadership need to be eliminated; there is need to open more democratic space and democracy should be upheld in secondary schools.