Stakeholders’ Perceptions about the Use of Alternative Punishment in Maintaining School Discipline: A Case of Bagamoyo District, Tanzania

Abstract

The finest environments for achieving academic performance are those with high standards for discipline. Because everyone is focused on the teaching and learning process, good discipline is crucial for creating a secure, respectful learning environment. The purpose of the study was to assess the perceptions of educational stakeholders about the use of Alternative Punishment in Maintaining Discipline in Secondary Schools in Bagamoyo District. This study was guided by three research objectives which were: to explore the perceptions of educational stakeholders about the use of corporal punishment in secondary schools, to identify the alternative punishments used to maintain students’ discipline, and to describe the effectiveness of alternative punishments used by teachers in maintaining students’ discipline. This study used a quantitative research paradigm under which cross sectional survey research design were employed. The sample included 112 secondary school students, 32 secondary school teachers, 8 discipline masters/mistresses, and 8 Heads of secondary schools from the sampled 8 secondary schools in Bagamoyo district. Data were collected through interview guide, questionnaires, and documentary analysis guide. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and content analysis. According to the results, using corporal punishment as the sole method of discipline in secondary schools is not seen negatively. The majority of participants rejected the notion that CP is a poor tactic. Additionally, it was determined that verbal warning, summoning parents, suspension, doing outside activities, and removing privileges were the common alternative punishments employed in schools in maintaining students’ discipline. Furthermore, it was established that educational stakeholders have positive perceptions towards the use of alternative punishment as the most effective way of maintaining discipline in secondary schools. Based on the findings of this study, it is concluded that educational stakeholders in Bagamoyo district perceive alternative punishment as effective in maintaining students’ discipline. The study recommended that teachers need to explore some other means of alternative punishment in order to effectively maintain school discipline.