ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to assess the role of students‟ councils in enhancing discipline in public secondary schools in Likoni Sub-county in Mombasa County. The study was guided by the following objectives: to establish the criteria of selection of students leaders in enhancing the implementation of discipline, to determine the effectiveness of students‟ council in enhancing discipline; to examine the challenges experienced by students‟ councils in public secondary schools and to establish ways of strengthening students‟ councils to effectively enhance discipline in Likoni SubCounty, Mombasa County. The study was based on the Elite conflict theory by C. Wright Mills (1916-1962). The descriptive survey design was used. The study was carried out in Likoni Sub-county Mombasa County. The target population was 3,012 teachers and students in the six public secondary schools in Likoni Sub-county. Simple random sample was used; the sampling fraction equals the probability of any member population being selected for the sample. The study collected data through the use of structured questionnaires which were given to the sampled respondents. Validity was determined using spearman‟s rho correlation. The reliability coefficient was 0.78. Mugenda and Mugenda indicated that a coefficient of 0.7 shows the instrument is reliable. Descriptive statistics was used and data was presented in frequency tables and percentages. On the criteria of selection of students‟ leaders on implementation of discipline in public secondary schools the study revealed that 97.1% of the student had elected their student leaders. The study also revealed that there was a combination of attributes among which 83.3% of the respondents indicated that disciplined students were selected to be leaders. On the how student councils enhance discipline in schools, 81.2% of the students agreed that the experience the students had gained helped them to maintain discipline, 80.2% revealed that the students were involved in planning of school activities hence were able to maintain discipline among the students. The challenges experienced by the students‟ council as mentioned by the students were lack of cooperation from student as well as lack of training. On how to strengthening the student councils to effectively deal with indiscipline issues in schools, 91.7% of the students felt that the student council should be given incentives and training, 86.6% of them felt the student council was to participate in decision making to enable them carry out their duties effectively. Based on the findings of this research, the researcher concluded that students‟ elected their students council members and there was a criteria used in the selection of students leaders which would enhance discipline in the school. The student council were dependent on the principal‟s administrative experience, involvement in planning of school activities, support of the student council and holding of regular meetings between the student council and the school administration in order to enforce discipline among the student. The study recommended that there is need for the school administrators and the students to agree on a selection criteria for student leaders. There is need for the school administration to involve student leaders in planning school activities, giving the student leaders adequate support and hold regular meetings with them. There is need for training of students‟ councils after they have been elected to help them understand their roles in the school on discipline issues. There is need for the school administration to give incentives and involve student leaders in decision making to a certain level on discipline issues in the school. Suggestions for further research; a study should be carried out on the effectiveness of having student council trained. Another study should be on how and to what extent student leaders can be involved in decision making on student discipline issues within the school.