The Effect of Discipline on the Academic Performance of Pupils in the Selected Primary Schools of Ainabkoi Division, Eldoret East District, Kenya

ABSTRACT

The major purpose of the study was to investigate the effects of discipline and academic performance of the pupils in the selected schools of Ainabkoi Division, Eldoret East District, Kenya. Th e specific objectives of the study were to investigate the relationship between indiscipline and performance of pupils, investigate the causes of indiscipline in schools to establish solutions to the problem of indiscipline in Ainabkoi Division. The instruments used for data collection were questionnaires and focused group discussion. The findings indicated that those pupils perform well in class. The respondents named poverty, lack of parental guidance, emotional stress and joining gang groups. Lastly the solutions to the problem of school discipline were investigated and results reveal that suspensions and punishments are the most effective. School authorities and teachers should identify the reasons for children's misbehavior and therefore deal with the problem. Relative of the pupils and teachers should work hand in hand to discipline pupils. Guardians should realize that they play a bigger part in disciplining their children. Effective and less violent means of disciplining children should be devised.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION ................................................................................................................. i

APPROVAL ....................................................................................................................... ii

DEDICATION ................................................................................................................... iii

ACKNOWLEDGMENT ................................................................................................... iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................. V

ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................... viii

CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................................ I

1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................. I

1.1. Background of the study .......................................................................................... I

1.2 Statement of the problem ......................................................................................... 2

1.3. Objectives of the study ............................................................................................ 2

1.4 Research questions .................................................................................................. 3

1.5 Scope of the study ..................................................................................................... 3

1.6 Significance of the study .......................................................................................... 3

CHAPTER TWO ............................................................................................................... 4

LITERATURE REVIEW ................................................................................................... 4

2.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 4

2.1 Theoretical frame work ............................................................................................. 4

2.2 Discipline of students and academic performance .............................................. 5

2.3 Causes of indiscipline by pupils in schools ........................................................... 6

2.3.1 Stress of the guardian ........................................................................................... 6

2.3.2 Emotional stress of the children ........................................................................... 6

2.4 Poverty and discipline of pupils ............................................................................... 7

2.5 Solutions to discipline problems .............................................................................. 8

CHAPTER THREE ........................................................................................................... 9

METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................. 9

1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 9

3.1 Research Design ....................................................................................................... 9

V

3.2. Population .................................................................................................................. 9

3.3. Research instruments and instruments of data collection ................................. 9

3.6. Data analysis ........................................................................................................... IO

3.7 Limitations of the research ...................................................................................... IO

CHAPTER FOUR ........................................................................................................... 11

DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF THE FINDINGS

........................................................................................................................................... 11

4.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 11

4.1 Profile of the respondents ...................................................................................... 11

4.2 Indiscipline and performance of pupils ................................................................. 12

4.2.1 Presence of pupils in primary schools .............................................................. 13

4.2.2 Evidence of cases of in disciplined children in primary schools ................... 14

4.2.3 Performance of children in class ........................................................................ 15

4.2.5 Evidence of pupils who have dropped out of school due to indiscipline ..... 16

4.3 Causes of indiscipline by pupils in schools ......................................................... 17

4.3.1 Poverty and indiscipline of pupils ...................................................................... 17

4.3.2 Emotional stress and discipline of pupils .......................................................... 18

4.3.3 Parental guidance and discipline of pupils ....................................................... 19

4.3.4 Cases of undisciplined children who have gone to the street.. ..................... 20

4.5 Solutions to the problem of indiscipline ................................................................ 21

4.5.1 Corporal punishments reduces indiscipline among pupils ............................ 22

4.5.2 Counseling reduces indiscipline among pupils ................................................ 22

4.5.3 Expulsions reduce indiscipline problems among pupils ................................. 23

4.5.4 What the school does to indiscipline children .................................................. 24

4.5.5 Applicability of the above stated interventions ................................................ 25

CHAPTER FIVE ............................................................................................................. 26

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ....... 26

5.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 26

5.2 Summary ................................................................................................................... 26

5.3 Conclusion ................................................................................................................ 27

VI

5.4 Recommendations .................................................................................................. 27

5.5 Areas for further studies ......................................................................................... 28

REFERENCES ............................................................................................................... 29

APPENDIX A: TRANSMITTAL LETTER .................................................................... 32

APPENDIX B: QUESTIONNAIRE ............................................................................... 33