School strategies for managing social media influence on students' discipline in Kenyan Secondary Schools

Abstract

ocial media is a global phenomenon changing the world in different ways. It has also been found to have both positive and negative influences on education processes as well as on students’ discipline. Therefore, the study sought to develop strategies for managing the influence of social media on students’ discipline in secondary schools in Kenya. Based on the study, this paper presents and discusses the research findings on the study objective which sought to establish and assess the strategies that the schools have and can put in place to manage the influence of social media on students’ discipline. The study utilized the pragmatic philosophical paradigm and the mixed methods research design where both positivists and constructivists approaches and techniques were combined. The study was undertaken in Bungoma County in Kenya. It was carried out in 306 secondary schools in the County. The target population of study was 19,000 students in Form 3. Scott Smith’s formula was used to determine the sample size of 600 students from 40 secondary schools as respondents. Purposive sampling was applied to select the 40 deputy principals and 40 heads of guidance and counselling departments from the selected secondary schools as respondents in the study. Three categories of boys’, girls’ and mixed schools were chosen from each sub-county. The questionnaires used had both closed- and open-ended questions. Interviews were also used to get more information for the study. Multiple Regression used to analyse the quantitative data. The strategies for managing discipline by schools were rated highly for implementation. The study recommended that schools should allow social media to be used as a teaching and learning tool only. They should also employ experts to control social media misuse by students. Schools should also enable teachers to monitor the use of social media by students. Meanwhile, they should strive to reduce exposure time to social media by students. This study will help schools to better address the root causes of student indiscipline and thus enhance learning in their institutions.