Influence of students leaders’ selection criteria on management of student discipline in public secondary schools in Tigania West Sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

The success of the teaching-learning process in school is dependent upon the quality of students’ discipline. However, indiscipline among students is on the rise in public secondary schools. The issue of student strikes, fear of examinations, leading to cheating and the burning of school property has become one of the serious problems being faced by the country’s school principals. In light of this, the study sought to investigate selection criteria for the management of student discipline in public secondary schools in Tigania West Sub-County, Kenya. The study is based on Douglas Murray McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y. The research employed a descriptive survey study. The population of the study consisted of 10 principals, 44 teachers and 80 student leaders to a total of 134 respondents, stratified random sampling was used to categorise schools into four: mixed day schools, boarding boys, boarding girls, and mixed boarding schools. Then 30% of principals were selected, while other categories were 10% each. The main research instrument was a questionnaire. The researcher piloted the questionnaires in one public secondary school, and the test-retest technique was used to assess the reliability of the research instrument. Quantitative data collected was analysed with the aid of the statistical package for social sciences version 21 to get the percentages and generate tables, charts, and figures for interpretation. The study established that the selection is mainly based on the academic performance and discipline of the individual, and this allows the selection of disciplined individuals with academic merit and good personality as leaders. The study concluded that the selection of student leaders by involving both teachers and students could enhance the ability of student leaders to promote student discipline. The study recommends that the selection of student leaders should involve both teachers and students in a democratic manner to avoid any disruption of academic work due to students feeling short-changed.