The Role Played by Students’ Government in Managing Discipline in Public Secondary Schools

Abstract

The study aimed at assessing the role played by students’ government in managing discipline in public secondary schools in Bukoba municipality, Kagera, Tanzania. This study adopted a mixed methods research approach supported with a convergent parallel research design. The participants were 120 (i.e., 15 HBs, 15 HGs, and 90 SLs). Data collection methods were questionnaires and interviews. Findings have indicated that, prevalent student’s misbehaviours are the use of abusive words among students and to teachers and stealing of others’ property; others are students’ absenteeism in school without excuse, lateness to school, failure to complete assignments and exercises provided by the teacher, noisemaking in class, fighting and examination malpractices. In regard to the involvement of students’ leaders in the formulation of rules and regulations, findings have established that, students’ leaders are not given an opportunity to provide their views on the already prepared school rules and regulations, on co-curricular activities (sports, games or cultural trips), to formulate rules concerning the design of school uniforms or in the preparation of school rules and regulations. On the issue of the challenges encountered by students’ leaders, findings show that, students’ leaders are challenged with irregular meetings which interfere with academic calendars, lack of feedback from teachers, failure by the students to take instructions from their government. Other challenges failure to complete class assignments and exercises on time, lack of cooperation from students and lack of enough time to engage in private studies. On the strategies employed by students’ leaders in alleviating indiscipline cases in public secondary schools, students’ responses have shown that, students’ leaders inflict corporal punishments to their deviant fellow students or verbal warnings or guidance and counselling groups. Based on the findings above, suggestions and recommendations are provided.