Communication Methods and Their Influence on Students’ Discipline in Public Secondary Schools in Kisumu County, Kenya

Abstract

Communication in educational institutions plays an important role in determining social awareness, cultures, interpersonal relationships, and good quality human resources for the well-being of mankind.  However, whereas effective communication is touted as the remedy to efficient management of employee performance in organization, limited information is available regarding how the same influence students’ discipline in public secondary schools. This is critical especially in areas such as Kisumu County where public secondary schools recorded an average of 24.6% of all the disciplinary cases reported in Kenya. This study explored how communication methods by school administration influence students’ discipline in Kisumu County. A cross sectional survey design on a target population of 225 public secondary schools comprising of 225 principals, 225 discipline masters and 225 student council leaders alongside seven Sub County education officers was adopted. A sample size of 144 schools was derived using Yamane’s formula. Stratified random sampling based on school category was used to select the schools, from which a sample size of 432 respondents for questionnaire administration was derived. Census was used to select the subcounty education officers for interviews. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse quantitative data while qualitative data was analysed thematically. Statistically significant positive correlation between communication practices and students’ discipline (n=137, r=.506, p < .05) among secondary schools was found, with communication practices accounting for 25.6% variation in student discipline among the secondary schools. It is concluded that moderate use of effective communication methods, through Kamkunji and subject/class teachers to the students on matters of discipline exists in secondary schools in Kisumu County.