Examining hindrances to Students Participation in Decision Making in Nakuru County, Kenya.

Abstract

This study investigated the hindrances to student participation in decision making in secondary schools in Kenya. The study was prompted by the frequent student unrests in Kenya. The institutionalization of the Student Councils in secondary schools was aimed at reducing the incidences of unrests by offering the students opportunity to present their grievances to the school administration for action before resorting to violent acts. The study utilised a survey research design. There are 87 boarding secondary schools in Nakuru County. 15 secondary schools were selected using simple random sampling to form the study sample. A survey questionnaire was used in collecting data; it was distributed among 300 secondary school learners. Data analysis involved descriptive statistical technique. The findings revealed that though students' councils have been instituted in schools, there are hindrances towards their successes, such as lack of support from the adults in the school community and the students not being taken seriously. Other hindrances included: suggestions from the students taking too long to be implemented; students are not taken seriously by the school administration; students participation in decision making seen as rebellion and the view that students have insufficient knowledge to deal with certain issues such as finance.