ASSESSMENT OF INFLUENCE OF TEACHERS’ DISCIPLINE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES ON STUDENTS’ PERFORMANCE IN KENYA CERTIFICATE OF SECONDARY EXAMINATION IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN THARAKA NITHI COUNTY

Abstract

Discipline in school entails cultivating positive behavior change in order to create a conducive learning environment. Discipline is instrumental in students’ academic performance. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of discipline management strategies on students’ performance in KCSE examinations in public secondary schools in Tharaka Nithi County. The objectives of this study were: to assess the influence of guidance and counseling on students’ performance in KCSE, ascertain the influence of students’ council on students’ performance in KCSE, establish the influence of suspension of indisciplined students on students’ performance in KCSE and to examine the influence of school rules on students’ performance in KCSE in public secondary schools in Tharaka Nithi County. A descriptive survey design with mixed methods was adopted. Data was collected with the aid of interviews and questionnaires. The KCSE results were also collected using exam form. The total number of public secondary schools in Tharaka Nithi County that was targeted for the study was 104. Out of this sample, 10 schools were for boys, 17 schools were for girls and 77 mixed schools. Two sampling techniques were deployed: Stratified random for teachers and purposive sampling technique for principals. The sample size for teacher participants was determined using the Krejcie & Morgan population sample table. A population size of 42 schools was sampled. The theoretical framework for the study was based on Systems Theory of Senge (1990). The study used descriptive statistics for data analysis. Pearson. r. was used to test the relationships of the variables with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) in analyzing the data. The data from the interview guide was arranged thematically, transcribed and then presented verbatim in order to triangulate the results. The findings of this study may be of benefit to different stakeholders like BOMs, principals, teachers and parents who would be sensitized about the information on most effective disciplinary strategies to be used on students’ discipline in schools. The results of the tested hypothesis revealed that teachers’ discipline management strategy of guidance and counseling influenced performance positively. The results of students’ council, suspension and school rules indicated that there is statistically no significant relationship between the use of these strategies and students’ performance in KCSE in public secondary schools in Tharaka Nithi County. The results of this study and its recommendations may be useful to policy makers at national level to develop new policies on use of alternative disciplinary strategies. The study results have added to the existing knowledge on effects of alternative disciplinary strategies on students’ performance in KCSE. It also serves as a base from which other researchers can carry out further study.