Effectiveness of guidance and counselling in maintaining discipline in secondary schools: a case of Mukuru slum, Makadara division, Nairobi

Abstract

Secondary schools in Kenya, especially those located in slum areas, are experiencing declining discipline standards which, if not checked, may interfere with effective learning. Despite the implementation of guidance and counselling as an alternative disciplinary measure, disciplinary problems are still increasing. The continual evidence of indiscipline cases cast doubts on the effectiveness of guidance and counselling in maintaining discipline in schools in slum areas. This study sought to investigate the effectiveness of guidance and counselling in maintaining discipline in secondary schools in slum areas of Mukuru in Makadara Division, Nairobi. The study adopted an ex post facto research design. The targeted population included all the 642 students, four teacher counsellors and four head teachers in the four secondary schools. A random sample of 238 students, 4 teacher counsellors and 4 head teachers were selected from four schools. Data was collected through administration of three sets of questionnaires to the selected respondents. The collected data were processed and analyzed using descriptive statistics with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 11.5 for windows. The study findings indicate that guidance and counselling was not effective in secondary schools. There was a discordant between implementation of guidance and counselling and qualifications of teacher counsellors and head teachers. The socio-economic lifestyle of the slum areas influenced the discipline among secondary school students in slum areas. The unique counselling needs of students in secondary schools in slum areas and the general limitations from the schools posed a great challenge to teacher counsellors in executing their responsibilities. Guidance and counselling programme in secondary schools in slum areas can only succeed in maintaining discipline with cooperation of the teacher counsellor, school, community around the school and the Ministry of Education. The study recommends that there is need for adequate sensitization and awareness of students about the role of guidance and counselling. Addressing disciplinary problems among students in slum areas should start from the community which seems to enhance deviant behaviours. As a result of the unique counselling needs/problems in schools in slum area, there is need to pay great attention and assist guidance and counselling for it to be an effective alternative disciplinary measure.