School Environment and Students Discipline in Selected Government Secondary Schools in Northern District Zanzibar

ABSTRACT 

The study was on school environment and students’ discipline in selected government secondary schools in Northern district, Zanzibar, with the following objectives: To establish the level of school environment, to asses the level of students’ discipline ; to examine the significant difference in respect to gender and age and to investigate the relationship between the two variables. The study used descriptive survey research design (cross sectional), in particular descriptive correlation. Data was collected through a standardized questionnaire for school environment and students’ discipline and analyzed using Frequencies and percentages for demographic characteristics, Mean for level of the Independent variable and the dependent variables, t-test for the significant difference and Pearson’s Linear correlation coefficient (PLCC) for significant relationship. Three hundred and fifty seven respondents constituted the sample size. The findings of the study indicated that all respondents (teachers) were in the age range from 21 years and above. Majority of respondents (teachers) were male. Majority of the teachers hold diploma. As for students, majority were male. Majority of the students were aged between 15-17 years of age and had attained “0” level classes. The level of school environment was low. The level of students’ discipline was high, there was no significant difference in students’ discipline in respect to gender and age and there was no significant relationship between school environment and students’ discipline. The researcher concluded that school environment was not favorable, Majority of students were undisciplined. The students of different categories did not behave well, school environment and students’ discipline were not significantly correlated and school environment had no significant effect on students’ discipline. The researcher recommended that the government should employee more female teachers to reduce gender inequality among teachers, The Ministry of education should provide enough funds which can help in modernizing the school environment, the School administrations should put in place strict rules and regulations to be followed by students to reduce indiscipline among students and administrators should motivate teachers so as to fill themselves comfortable with their works and maintain good relationship in order deal with their students effectively.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preliminary page Page

DECLARATION A

DECLARATION B

APPROVAL SHEET

CKNOWLEDGEMENT iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS V

LIST OF TABLES VIII

ABSTRACT vii

ONEJHE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE 1

1.0 Introduction 1

l.lBackground to the study 1

1.1.1 Historical background 1

1.1.2 Theoretical perspective 2

1.1.3 Conceptual perspective 3

1.1.4 Contextual perspective 4

1.2 Statement of the problem 5

1.3 Purpose of the study 7

1.4 Research objectives 7

1.5 Hypothesis

1.6 Scope of the study 7

1.6.1 Geographical scope 7

1.6.2 Theoretical scope 7

1.63 Content scope 8

1.6.4 Time scope 8

1.7 Significance of the study 8

1.8 Operational difinitions 8

2.2.1 Relationship among school members .13

2.4 Relationship among school members and students’ discipline 17

2.2.3 Social services 17

2.2.4 Teaching and learning facilities 19

2.2.5 Teaching/learning facilities and students’ discipline 22

2.3 students’ discipline 23

2.3.1 Truancy 24

2.3.2. Absenteeism 26

2.3.3 Absenteeism, truancy and school environment 27

2.3.4 Fighting 28

2.3.5 Peer group 29

2.3.6 Peer group and school environment 32

2.3.7 Stealing 32

2.3.8 Stealing and school environment 33

2.4 The significance of school discipline to school social work practice 34

2.4.1 Psychological sequel of school discipline 36

3.4.2 The school discipline as ineffective punishment 36

3.4.3 The school discipline as positive reinforcement for misbehavior 37

2.5 Summary of gaps to be bridged by the study 38

THREE_METHODOLOGY 40

3.lResearch Design 40

3.2Research Population 40

3.4 Sampling procedure 41

3.5 Research Instruments 41

3.6 Validity and Reliability of the Instruments 42

3.6.l Validity 42

3.7 Reliability 42