Abstract:
Students interpersonal conflicts have continued to permeate secondary schools in Kenya. Managing these interpersonal conflicts has been a major challenge over the years. The sharp increase in cases of violence, general indiscipline and unrest in Kenyan schools. has negatively affected academic programmes and the school
climate. Despite the increase in such conflicts in the schools, little research has been conducted on alternative ways of handling students' interpersonal conflicts. Research data is crucial in developing any effective and practical violence prevention and reduction approaches. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of peer mediation training on the attitude of secondary school students towards management of interpersonal conflict. The study was justified in view of the need for research to explore alternative approaches in managing students' interpersonal conflicts in ways that are safe, legal,
non violent and respectful of all involved. The study was conducted in Eldoret Municipality, Uasin Gishu District in the Rift Valley Province. One hundred form two students participated in the study. The researcher adopted a quasi experimental research design; the one group pretest- post test Design. In this study a single pre test questionnaire was taken before training commenced. This was followed by an intervention; in this case training in peer mediation. On completion of training a post test questionnaire and brief interview was administered. The study was guided by the central tenets of the social learning theory; observation, imitation and modeling. The t- test for independent samples was used to establish the relationship between gender and students' attitude towards interpersonal conflict management. Paired samples t-test was used to establish the effect of training in peer mediation on students' peer mediation skills, students' interpersonal conflict management, and students' conflict management styles. The data was analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The findings of this study showed that peer mediation training did have a positive effect on students' attitude towards management of interpersonal conflict. Trained students reported improved attitudes towards management of interpersonal conflicts. This is in line with the goal of training in peer mediation: to teach young people that conflict is a normal and health part of all human relationships. The results provide useful information to secondary school managers to teacher counselors who may wish to implement peer mediation in regular school peer helping services. The research supported model for violence prevention and reduction provides guidelines on conducting training, strategy and other considerations necessary for successful implementation.
