Effective Disciplinary Strategies to Combating Indiscipline in Public Senior High Schools in Kumasi, Ghana
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47941/jep.1541Keywords:
Public School, Discipline, Multi-stakeholder, PerspectivesAbstract
Purpose: The effective ways of handling misbehaviour in school is rarely deliberated upon by policy makers and educators. This research studied the effective strategies used in Public Senior High Schools in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana.
Methodology: The mixed-method approach was used to gather both qualitative and quantitative data with structured questionnaires and interview guides.
Findings: The analysis suggests that 92.21% of parents favoured suspension over rewards (9.03%). Teachers (86.74%) favoured referring students to the disciplinary committee over writing bad comments on students' reports (34.8%). Students (86.13%) preferred use of reward to caning (57.07%) as most effective disciplinary strategy. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) further suggested a significant difference in the perspective of parents, teachers and students on the most effective disciplinary strategies like rewards (P≤0.001), inviting parents (P≤0.000), negative testimonials (P≤0.000), suspension (P≤0.000), disciplinary committee (P≤0.000), manual work (P≤0.000), and caning (P≤0.000). The managers support the use of counselling, cleaning, weeding, reflection and repeating a class as effective.
Unique Contribution to theory and practice: This study concludes with the proposition that disciplinary committee processes, suspensions and rewards for students are effective in handling student misbehaviour. It is recommended that parents, teachers, students and managers work together as collaborators in ensuring effective discipline in the school.
Downloads
References
Adu-Agyem, J., Assan, T. A., & Owusu-Ansah, A. (2020). The impact of guidance and counselling services on students' discipline in senior high schools in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. International Journal of Innovative Research and Advanced Studies, 7(3), 28-35.
Amoah, A. B. (2018). Corporal punishment in Ghanaian schools: Whose interests does it serve? International Journal of Educational Development, 59, 56-62.
Amoasi, P. K. B. (2008). Challenges in Maintaining Discipline in Koforidua Senior High Technical School. University of Cape Coast.
Angsomwine, P. (2014). Obstacles to the Maintenance of Discipline in Selected Senior High Schools in the Tamale Metropolis. Master's Thesis, University of Cape Coast.
Asamoah, F. K., & Oppong, M. A. (2018). The Role of Student Handbook in Disciplinary Actions in Senior High Schools in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Journal of Education and Practice, 9(4), 9-16.
Atunde, M. O., & Aliyu, T. T. (2019). Prevalence, Causes and Management of Indiscipline in Public Secondary Schools: Ilorin Metropolis in Focus. Journal of Sociology and Anthropology, 3(3), 85-94. doi: 10.12691/jsa-3-3-1
Baker-Henningham, H., Meeks-Gardner, J., Chang, S., & Walker, S. (2009). Experiences of violence and deficits in academic achievement among urban primary school children in Jamaica. Child Abuse & Neglect, 33(5), 296-306. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2008.05.011
Bear, G. G., Minke, K. M., & Manning, M. A. (2002). Self-concept of students with learning disabilities: A meta-analysis. School Psychology Review, 31(3), 405-427. doi:10.1080/02796015.2002.12086165
Canter, L. (1989). Assertive discipline: A response. Teachers College Record: The Voice of Scholarship in Education, 90(4), 631-638. doi:10.1177/016146818909000404
Cornu, C., Abduvahobov, P., Laoufi, R., Liu, Y., & Sguy, S. (2022). An introduction to a whole-education approach to school bullying: Recommendations from UNESCO scientific committee on school violence and bullying including cyberbullying. International Journal of Bullying Prevention. doi:10.1007/s42380-021-00093-8
Donkor, K. B. (2019). 10 KTI Students picked up by Police over Campus "Demo." Retrieved October 21, 2019, from Graphic online website: https://www. graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/ghana-news-10-kti-students-picked-up-by-police-over-campus-demo.html.
Gebrezgabiher, G. G. & Hailu G. K. (2017). Corporal Punishment of Children's in School: A Critical Literature Review. International Journal of Advancements in Research and Technology, Vol. 6(5)72-87.
Gershoff, E. T. (2017). School corporal punishment in global perspective: Prevalence, outcomes, and efforts at intervention. Psychology, Health & Medicine, 22(sup1), 224-239. doi:10.1080/13548506.2016.1271955
Gershoff, E. T., Purtell, K. M., & Holas, I. (2015). Prevalence of and attitudes about school corporal punishment in the U.S. Springer Briefs in Psychology, 9-24. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-14818-2_2
Ghana Education Service. (2019). Code of Conduct for Students, Teachers, and Head teachers. Accra: Ghana Education Service.
Gregory, A., Skiba, R. J., & Noguera, P. A. (2010). The achievement gap and the discipline gap: Two sides of the same coin? Educational Researcher, 39(1), 59-68. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X09357621
GSS. (2014). 2010 Population and Housing Census: District Analytical Report of Kumasi Metropolitan. In Ghana Statistical Service. Accra.
Lamont, J. H., Devore, C. D., Allison, M., Ancona, R., Barnett, S. E., ... & Young, T. (2013). Out-of-school suspension and expulsion. Pediatrics, 131(3), e1000-e1007. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2012-3932
Karamalla-Gaiballa, N. (2021). Violations of children's rights in Sudan and their circumstances: The current situation and the possibility of solutions. Society Register, 5(2), 57-68. doi:10.14746/sr.2021.5.2.04
Kimani, J. W. (2013). School Factors Influencing Students' Discipline in Public Secondary Schools in Kinangop District, Kenya. University of Nairobi.
Kwakye, E. O. (2021). Indiscipline among junior high school students in Nkoranza district: Causes, effects and the way forward. Journal of Economics & Management Research, 1-15. doi:10.47363/jesmr/2021(2)118
Lewis, C. (2019). Detention in schools: A review of the research literature. Educational Psychology, 39(2), 192-208.
Luti-Mallei, R. M., Gakunga, D. K., & Nungu, M. (2023). Impact of student leaders' participation in school peer counseling programs on learners' discipline in public and private secondary schools in Machakos Sub-County, Kenya. International Journal of Learning and Development, 13(2), 126. doi:10.5296/ijld. v13i2.20955
Ma, J., Li, S. L., Chen, Y., Yue, F. J., Shaheen, S. M., Majrashi, A., ... Zheng, Q. (2022). Hazardous toxic metal (loid)s in top-and deep-soils during the transformation of aquaculture ponds restored to farmland. Science of The Total Environment, 852, 158569. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158569
McCluskey, G., Lloyd, G., Stead, J., Kane, J., Riddell, S., & Weedon, E. (2008). Evaluating the impact of restorative practice in Scottish schools. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 12(4), 411-427.
Morrison, B. (2018). Restorative justice in schools: A critical assessment. Youth Justice, 18(2), 127-144.
Ngwokabuenui, P. Y. (2015). Students' Indiscipline: types, causes and possible solutions: The Case of Secondary Schools in Cameroon. Journal of Education and Practice, vol. 6, no. 22, 64-72.
Ofori, K.N., Tordzro, G., Asamoah, E. & Achiaa, E. (2018). The Effects of Indiscipline on Academic Performance of Junior High School Students in the Fanteakwa District of Ghana. Journal of Education and Practice.
Olubor, R. O., Abdulkareem, A. Y., Alabi, A. T., & Adeyanju, F. (2017). Educational management: new perspectives. In Amfitop Books. Lagos: Amfitop Books.
Omote, M. J., Thinguri, R. W., & Moenga, M. E. (2015). A critical analysis of acts of student indiscipline and management strategies employed by school authorities in public high schools in Kenya. International Journal of Education and Research, 3(12), 1-10.
Orgando, R., & Pells, K. (2015). Education under attack 2014. Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack.
Osei, K. A., & Mensah, M. (2019). School discipline and indiscipline in Ghana: A case study of selected schools in the Cape Coast Metropolis. Journal of Education and Practice, 10(2), 1-8.
Otero, T. L., & Haut, J. M. (2016). Differential effects of reinforcement on the self-monitoring of on-task behaviour. School psychology quarterly, 31(1), 91. doi:10.1037/spq0000113
Owusu-Ansah, F. E. (2019). Positive reinforcement and students' academic performance in Ghana: A case study of primary schools in the Ahafo Ano South District. International Journal of Innovative Research and Advanced Studies, 6(9), 26-31.
Pandey, S. (2001). Corporal punishment in schools. New Front in Educ, 31: 347-354.
Parkes, J., & Heslop, J. (2011). How teachers in Ghana, Kenya and Mozambique understand their role in safeguarding children. Child Abuse Review, 20(4), 241-257.
Sackey, E., Amaniampong, K., & Efua, J. (2016). Analysis of the State of Discipline in Kwanyarko Senior High School in the Central Region of Ghana. Journal of Education and Practice, 7(6), 124-139.
Sadik, F., & Yalcin, O. (2018). Examination of the views of high school teachers and students with regard to discipline perception and discipline problems. Journal of Education and Training Studies, 6(2), 97. doi:10.11114/jets. v6i2.2715
Silva, A. M., Negreiros, F., & Albano, R. M. (2016). Indiscipline at public school: Teachers' conceptions on causes and intervention. International Journal of Research in Education and Science, 3(25311), 1-10. doi:10.21890/ijres.267354
Skiba, R. J. & Peterson, R. L. (2000). School Discipline at a Crossroads: From Zero Tolerance to Early Response. Exceptional Children, 66(3), 335-346. doi: 10.1177/001440290006600305
Skiba, R. J., Michael, R. S., Nardo, A. C., & Peterson, R. L. (2002). The color of discipline: Sources of racial and gender disproportionality in school punishment. The Urban Review, 34(4), 317-342.
Smyth, E. & Quail, A. (2017). Structuring student behaviour: discipline policy in primary schools. Irish Teachers' Journal, 5(1).
Smyth, E., & Quail, A. (2017). Inclusive school leadership: The perspectives of Irish primary school principals. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 21(6), 622-635.
Straus, M.A. (2010) Prevalence, societal causes, and trends in corporal punishment by parents in world perspective. Law Contemporary Problems 31:1-30 Gershoff ET. School corporal punishment in global perspective: prevalence, outcomes, and efforts at intervention. Psychol Health Med. 2017; 22(1):224-39..
Sugai, G., & Horner, R. H. (2009). Responsiveness-to-intervention and school-wide positive behavior supports: Integration of multi-tiered system approaches. Exceptionality, 17(4), 223-237.
Urieh, E. G. (2015). The Impact of Strict Discipline on Student Academic Performance. Retrieved from Kashim Ibrahim College of Education website: https://www.academia.edu/9743261/THE_IMPACT_OF_STRICT_DISCIPLINE_ON_STU DENT_ACADEMIC_PERFORMANCE.
Wairagu, R. W. (2017). School Related Factors Influencing Students' Discipline in Public Secondary Schools in Thika West Sub-County, Kenya. University of Nairobi.
Yaa, A. D., Fredrica, A., Cynthia, B., Adwoa, B. E., & Nancy, O. G. (2011). Effects of Indiscipline in the Second Cycle Institutions (A Case Study of some Selected Schools in Kumasi Metropolis). Christian Service University College.
Yamane, T. (1973). Taro Yamane's formula
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Paul Kwasi Kumah, Jonathan Mensah Dapaah, Peter Dwumah, Bimpeh Asiedu Hubert, Isaac Addai
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
