Effects of Application of Technology on Student Discipline in Public Secondary Schools in Nakuru County, Kenya

Abstract

High standard of discipline amongst students is not only important in ensuring excellent academic performance, but it also guarantees success in the achievement of other school activities and ensuring sustainable development and instilling of good moral standards amongst students. It is worrying to note that the challenges of managing student discipline in secondary schools in Kenya are pervasive and constant. Different discipline management techniques have been used in schools, but the majority of them fail. This study was designed to investigate the effects of using technology to manage student behaviour in public secondary schools in Nakuru County, Kenya. The study’s goal was to determine how the use of closed-circuit television (CCTV) affected student behaviour in public secondary schools in Nakuru County. The theory of Reasoned Action provided the study’s direction (TRA). Explanatory sequential design, specifically mixed method research design, was employed. The target populations for the study included 579 teachers and 11,412 students, respectively. The sample population for the current study was composed of ten public secondary schools. Five of the schools have installed all of either of the four technologies, while the other five schools do not use technology in discipline management. The study compared the scores of the two categories of schools in regard to several disciplinary parameters. The sample size was 270 participants. Both questionnaires and interviews were used to gather data. Experts from the Department of Educational Management at Kenyatta University determined the validity of the study tools. Reliability was established using the test-retest methodology. Thematic analysis was used to analyse qualitative data, which was then presented narratively. Through descriptive analysis, specifically using percentages and averages, quantitative data was examined. Inferential statistics included regression analysis and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Quantitative data was presented in tables and charts. Results indicated a positive correlation between the independent and dependent variables. It implies that the more schools implement CCTV technologies, the more discipline can be managed effectively