Student council participation in the management of discipline in public secondary schools in Teso north sub county, Busia County, Kenya

Abstract

Student Council is a representative structure through which students in a post-primary school can become involved in the affairs of the school, working in partnership with school management, staff and parents for the benefit of the school and its students. The study set out to investigate student council participation in the management of discipline in public secondary school in Teso North Sub-County in Busia County. The study sought to: establish the influence of student council participation in the formulation rules and regulations on management of discipline; establish the effect of student council participation in guidance and counseling on the management of discipline; determine the influence of student council involvement in formulating punishment on the management of discipline; and examine the influence of use of rewards on student council participation in the management of discipline. The study was based on dimensional theory of leadership as advanced by Lewin, Lippit and white, Tannenbaum and Schmidt, Vroom and Yetton and McGregor. The target population was 7379 students and 189 teachers and 27 principals from 27 schools. The research employed descriptive survey design using a random sample of 365 students, 18 teachers and 9 principals. This sample size was determined using Krejcie and Morgan’s table of sample determination and using coefficient variation of 30% and a standard error of 2% through stratified simple random sampling technique. The information was collected using a self-administered questionnaire, an interview guide and document analysis. Content validity of an instrument was improved through expert judgment. In order to improve the reliability of the instrument, an assessment of the consistency of the responses on the pilot questionnaires was made to make judgments on their reliability. The study established the following: students involvement in the periodic review of rules and regulation and guidance and counseling had influence on discipline however it emerged that students are partially involved; schools involved students in designing punishment but students never took punishment positively and that common disciplinary problems experienced in schools was due to lack of students involvement. Lastly, it emerged that rewards influenced discipline and more particularly when students were involved which was usually not the case. Data analysis was presented descriptively using means and frequencies with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences. The analyzed data was put in form of frequency tables, pie charts and graphs. Qualitative data was put under themes consistent with the research objectives. The study recommended that schools should empower students’ council in which students’ views and ideas can be heard and discussed; Ministry of education should organize and offer seminars to ensure that school heads are well sensitized on the importance of involving students in school management; among others. The study findings will help education stakeholders and students to recognize the importance of student involvement in the management of discipline.