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.
