Participation in Secondary Education

Parenting Styles as Predictors of Selected Behaviours among Public Secondary School Students in Embu County, Kenya.

2018-01-01T00:00:00Z

Parenting Styles as Predictors of Selected Behaviours among Public Secondary School Students in Embu County, Kenya. Njogu, Njagi Simon Secondary school students face challenges of safely wading through their adolescence in a world where the culture of drug use and sexual immorality is fast becoming the norm other than exception. As adolescents transit this turbulent stage they increasingly engage in risky behaviours despite the efforts made by schools, government and the society at large to address the challenges. The role parents in helping their children face the adolescent challenges cannot be underestimated, however, the extent to which parenting styles determine secondary school students‟ behaviours is not well understood. This study examined parenting styles, as predictors of selected behaviours among public secondary school students in Embu County, Kenya. Five objectives guided the study: to investigate the extent to which parenting styles predict secondary school students’ risky sexual behaviours, to find out the extent to which parenting styles predict secondary school students’ drug use, to establish the extent to which parenting styles predict secondary school students' violent behaviours, to investigate extent to which parenting styles predict secondary school students suicidal behaviours and to establish extent to which parenting styles predict dropping out of school by students in secondary school. The study was anchored on Bronfernbrenners’ bioecological theory and parenting styles theory by Maccoby and Martins. Cross sectional survey research design was adopted for the study. Data on parenting style and students’ risky behaviours, were collected by use of questionnaires, focus group discussion guide was used to collect indepth views of students while interview guide was used to collect views of guidance and counseling teachers on students’ behaviours. The study targeted population of 8820. Purposive sampling was used to select a sample of 15 schools. A sample of 399 students was selected using systematic random sampling. The study also used a sample of 15 Guidance and counseling teachers and 70 secondary school dropouts, purposively selected. Reliability for the parenting styles questionnaires and students’ behaviour were calculated, an average cronbach alpha (α) of α = 0.82 for parenting styles questionnaires was reported and α = 0.78 for risky behaviour. Data was analyzed by use of descriptive statistics such as: frequency tables, means percentages and inferential statistics. All the study hypotheses were tested by use of multiple linear regressions. The major findings of the study based on the study objectives showed that parenting styles significantly predict secondary school students‟ behaviours studied, specifically parenting styles predicting students risky sexual behaviours (R 2 =0. 483, P< 0.05), parenting styles predicting drug use (R2 = 0.644, P< 0.05), Parenting styles predicting students’ violence (R2 =0.627, P< 0.05 ), parenting styles predicting suicidal behaviour (R2 = 0.721, P< 0.05) and parenting styles predicting students school dropout (R2 =0.862, P< 0.05). The study also established that authoritative parenting style is the most protective of students against behaviours of students which are undesirable. The study recommends that, students’ behaviours be addressed through combined efforts of the government; school BOM, PTA. Each agent should be involved in intervention measures which target educating and empowering parents on good parenting. A PhD Thesis submitted to Maasai Mara University

Influence of Co-Curricular Activities and Categorization of Public Secondary Schools on Students’ Commitment to Democratic Values in Kenya

2019-01-01T00:00:00Z

Influence of Co-Curricular Activities and Categorization of Public Secondary Schools on Students’ Commitment to Democratic Values in Kenya Gachara, John Deficiencies in students’ commitment to democratic values in public secondary schools, have remained to be one of the major 21st Century education challenge in Kenya. This challenge which manifested itself in form of perennial students’ violent-civil disobedience, continues to cause high levels of damage and loss of property, human injuries and sometimes loss of life. In an effort to address these challenges, expansion of the scope for nurturing students’ commitment to democratic values beyond formal curriculum is considered to be a fundamental solution. In pursuing this line of thought, the co-curricular activities and categorisation of schools are considered as frames of operation within the school system that are envisioned to have the potential to facilitate this solution. Based on this premise, the study was designed to explore the potentials for co-curricular activities and categorization of schools in influencing students’ commitment to democratic values in public secondary schools. The study was conducted in Kiambu County and addressed the following objectives: establishing influence of talent enhancement, academic enhancement and school social movements’and other co-curricular activities on students’ commitment to democratic values. It further investigated the influence of categorization of schools on students’ commitment to democratic values. To achieve these objectives ex-post facto research design was used. The target population was 28,213 Form IV students. Stratified proportionate random sampling procedure was used to select a sample of 430 students. A student questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data from the students. The reliability of Likert scale was estimated using Cronbach alpha which was found to be 0.82. Percentages, mean and standard deviation were used to describe the number of students per cocurricular activity and school categorization. T-test was used to test hypothesis H01, H02 and H03. 1-Way ANOVA was used for testing Hypothesis H04 and H05. The results of the 1-Way ANOVA were confirmed using Tukey’s SDH test and multiple regression. The results on test of hypotheses revealed the following: there was statistical significant difference in commitment to democratic values between students involved in talent enhancement co-curricular activities and those not involved (t (238.480) = 36.067, P = 0.0001), there was statistical significant difference in commitment to democratic values between students involved in academic enhancement cocurricular activities and those not involved (t (187.402) = 30.928, P = 0.0001) and there was statistical significant difference in commitment to democratic values between students involved in social movement co-curricular activities and those not involved (t (108.450) = 26.291, P = 0.0001). The tests further revealed that there was statistical significant difference in commitments to democratic values among students involved in talent enhancement, academic enhancement and school social movement co-curricular activities (F (2, 340) = 4.70, p ≤ 0.01) with Tukey’s test indicating talent enhancement was significantly different from other two co- curricular activities. Multiple regression on co-curricular activities yielded a significant regression equation (F (3, 339) = 5.563, p<0.001) with R2 of .047. Tests on categorisation of schools showed, there was statistical significant difference in commitments to democratic values among students involved in co-curricular activities in national schools, extra-county schools, county schools, sub-county schools (F (3, 339) = 16.73, p ≤ 0.001) with Tukey’s test indicating; national schools were significantly different from the other three schools. Multiple regression on categorisation of schools yielded a significant regression equation (F (4, 338) = 12.790, p<0.001) with R2 of 0.31. Hence hypothesis Ho1, Ho2, Ho3, Ho4 and Ho5 were rejected. The study concludes the co-curricular activities and categorization of public secondary schools influenced students’ commitment to democratic values. The study recommends students’ participation in cocurricular activities be enhanced in all categories of schools and co-curricular activities be adopted as a core framework for integration of national democratic values among students. A PhD Thesis submitted to Maasai Mara University

Incidence and Extent of Substance Abuse among Secondary School Students in Nairobi Province, Kenya: Implications for Specialised Intervention

2010-01-01T00:00:00Z

Incidence and Extent of Substance Abuse among Secondary School Students in Nairobi Province, Kenya: Implications for Specialised Intervention King’endo, Madrine Substance abuse has become a major challenge in secondary schools in Kenya. A study carried out in Kenya observed that 20% of adolescents aged between 12 and 22 years smoke cigarettes, 9% smoke bhang while 23% drink commercial beer and spirits. This is the age in which most youths are in schools and colleges. The aim of this study was to find out the incidence and extent of drug abuse among secondary school students in Nairobi Province, Kenya. This information is useful in developing specialized educational programs for drug abuse in Kenya. The objectives of this study were: to determine various substances commonly abused by students, assess the prevalence of substance abuse in secondary schools, determine the factors that contribute to substance abuse, students’ behaviour related to substance abuse and identify the factors that influence students to abuse drugs. An expost-facto research design was employed. The study population comprised of all public secondary schools in Nairobi Province. The sampling was done using stratified sampling to obtain different categories of schools, and the status of each school. The schools were chosen from the strata using purposive and simple random sampling methods. Systematic sampling was then applied to obtain the required number of students, where every tenth student from the admission register was selected. One counselling teacher from each sampled school was selected to participate in the study. The total number of respondents was 525 students and 14 counselling teachers. A separate questionnaire for students and another one for counselling teachers were used to collect data. The instrument‘s validity and reliability was enhanced through a pilot study in two schools within the province and were not included in the main study. Face validity and content validity was used by the researcher engaging colleagues and experts in the school of education. The questionnaires were administered to the respondents by the researcher assisted by four research assistants. The research began after obtaining a research permit from the Ministry of Education. The data obtained was coded and analysed using the SPSS programme for windows. The statistics used for this exercise were mainly percentages, pie charts and bar graphs. However, the stated hypotheses were tested by the use of the chi square. The key findings showed that peer pressure, school and family stress, and drug availability contributed to students’ drug abuse. It was also found that alcohol was the most abused drug, that boys abused drugs more than girls and that drug abuse was more prevalent in mixed schools than the other categories of schools. The study also found that most students, 81%, who abused drugs did this often. The study concludes that stringent measures should be put in place urgently so as to address the problem of drug abuse. The study recommends a multifaceted approach as a strategy for minimizing the vice in the Kenya secondary schools. A Thesis Submitted In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the School of Education, Kenyatta University, October 2010

Relationship between Adolescents' Perceptions of Their Parents' Behaviours and the Teenagers' Non-Illegal and Minor- Illegal Delinquency in Nairobi County Secondary Schools, Kenya

2014-01-01T00:00:00Z

Relationship between Adolescents' Perceptions of Their Parents' Behaviours and the Teenagers' Non-Illegal and Minor- Illegal Delinquency in Nairobi County Secondary Schools, Kenya Kariuki, Njeri Scolastica This study investigated the relationship between adolescents' perceptions of their parents' behaviours and teenagers' involvement in non-illegal and minor illegal delinquency in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study was based on parenting styles theory by Baumrind, social control theory by Nye and ego identity versus role confusion theory by Erikson. The participants comprised 219 female and 191 male students selected through the use of stratified and simple random sampling. Data was collected using a researcher designed questionnaire and a self-report behaviour checklist. The independent variables of study were adolescents' perceptions of parents' behaviours that included supportiveness, monitoring of the teenagers' conducts, punitive disciplining, conflicts and alcohol use. The dependent variables comprised adolescents' non-illegal noncompliance and truancy) and minor-illegal (violence, substance abuse and stealing) delinquent behaviours. A correlational survey design was employed and relationships were examined using correlation coefficient statistics. The findings indicate that 279 adolescents had perceptions that they were excessively supported, 74.9% were occasionally involved, 17.7% were persistently (frequently) involved and 7.5% were never involved in the non-illegal delinquent behaviours. Further, 13 adolescents reported that they had perceptions of inadequate parental supporti veness, 61.5% of them were involved occasionally and 35.5% were never involved in the minor-illegal delinquent behaviours. Parental supportiveness was not related at p > .0 I (two tailed test) to adolescents' non-illegal and minor-illegal delinquent behaviours. The adolescents who perceived excessive parental monitoring comprised the highest percentage of those who were involved in occasional non-illegal (77 .6%) and occasional minor-illegal (51.7%) delinquent behaviours. The highest percentage of the persistent non-illegal (17.5%) and persistent minor-illegal (7.7%) delinquent behaviours were those who perceived excessive parental monitoring. The lowest percentage of the adolescents who were involved in occasional non-illegal (46.2%) and persistent non-illegal (7.7%) behaviours were those who perceived low parental monitoring. The results revealed a significant positive relationship between adolescents' perceptions of parental monitoring and non-illegal, and substance abuse delinquent behaviours at p < .01 (two tailed test). There was a significant positive relationship between perceptions of parental use of harsh words and adolescents' involvement in non-illegal delinquent behaviours. Perceived corporal punishment and adolescents' substance abuse were significantly positively related at p < .05 (two tailed test). Frequent perceptions of parental alcohol use were significantly positively related to non-illegal delinquent behaviours and generalised delinquency. Adolescents' perceptions of parental alcohol were positively related to their involvement in non-illegal and minor illegal delinquent behaviours at p < .01 (two tailed test). Parenting training and adolescents' counselling were recommended to alleviate the youths' involvement in non-illegal and minor-illegal delinquent behaviours. Adolescents' behaviour surveillance in schools was also recommended. A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the degree of doctor of philosophy in educational psychology in The school of education, Kenyatta University, 2014