Role of religious sponsors in management of students’ discipline in public secondary schools in Kisumu West sub-County, Kenya

Abstract

Kenya’s Education Act 2013 empowers religious sponsors to participate in the management of public secondary schools which they sponsor. The Act gives provision for the Religious sponsors to participate in management of students’ discipline, character formation and inculcation of moral values towards the achievement of national goals of education. Indiscipline among students is still common despite the inclusion of Religious sponsors into the Board of management. The purpose of the study was to explore role of Religious sponsors in management of students’ discipline in public secondary schools in Kisumu West Sub-County. Specifically, the study was to: determine the challenges of discipline amongst students, examine input of Religious sponsors in the management of students’ discipline, identify challenges facing the Religious sponsors in management of students’ discipline and determine coping strategies in management of students’ discipline. The study used Parson’s Theory of Functional System Approach to Management. Cross-Sectional Survey Research Design was adopted. Units of analysis consisted of 42 public secondary schools sponsored by Religious organizations. The study population consisted of 42 PA Chairpersons, 42 Principals, 42 deputy principals, 5 Priests and 1QASO. The sample selected by way of saturated sampling involved 42 Parents Association chairpersons, 42 Principals, 42 deputy principals and 5 Priests and 1Quality Assurance and Standard Officer. Data collection instruments included Questionnaires, interview schedules and document analysis guide. A total of 132 respondents were interrogated. 84 of whom responded to Questionnaires while 48 were interviewed. Quantitative data was analyzed by descriptive statistics which included frequency counts, means and percentages, presented in tabular forms. Qualitative data was transcribed and organized into categories as per emerging themes and sub-themes. The findings revealed that most indiscipline cases facing students were due to: Influence of modern technology, drugs abuse, low level of parental involvement, non-participation of students in rule formulation, boy-girl relationship, high level of poverty, inadequate of trained chaplains, ineffective guidance and counseling and lately examination cheating. coping strategies adopted included: strengthening of chaplaincy system, initiating effective collaborative guidance and counseling programs, enhancing effective pastoral program, introduction of sponsorship to needy students, adopting multi-faceted approach that involve all key stakeholders in the education sector. In conclusion, the Religious sponsors should actively be involved in the management of students’ discipline. A study on the relationship between sponsors and students’ academic achievement in public secondary schools would expound the understanding of the current problem.