Strategies for promoting students’ discipline in secondary schools in Kinondoni municipality, Tanzania

Students‟ indiscipline problem has been an issue that arouses attention among researchers, policy makers and policy implementers. To redress the problem the study aimed to explore the strategies that can be used to promote students‟ discipline in secondary schools in Kinondoni municipality. The objectives of the study were to; examine the types of students‟ indiscipline cases found in secondary schools, determine the methods used to promote students‟ discipline in secondary schools, explore the challenges schools encounter in promoting students‟ discipline in secondary schools, and establish the strategies to promote students‟ discipline in Tanzanian secondary schools. The study employed qualitative approach informed by case study design. Participants were selected through purposive sampling, purposive random sampling and convenience sampling techniques while data was collected through interview and open ended questionnaires. Data were analyzed thematically. Findings revealed that there was indiscipline problem in secondary schools which included sexual related indiscipline cases, alcoholism related indiscipline cases and attendance related indiscipline cases. Findings also indicated several methods that were used to promote students‟ discipline both parents/guardians and teachers, which were grouped as preventive, punitive as well as guidance and counselling services. Moreover, findings indicated different challenges faced teachers in promoting students‟ discipline, including poor parental involvement, nature of students, teachers‟ involvement in sexual relationships with students, indecent dressing, and use of abusive language, parents‟ protective behaviour to indiscipline children, and single parenting. Other challenges included lack of resources, particularly office space for conducting guidance and counselling services and environmental challenges such as family and community settings and upbringing hindered the promotion of discipline in students. Furthermore, the findings indicated several strategies that were suggested to promote good discipline among students, including provision of seminars to parents/guardians, strengthening collaboration among educational stakeholders, hiring professional advisors and counsellors, use of religious institution in promoting good discipline as well as provision of regular academic activities so as to keep students busy. It was recommended that the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training should ensure that each school has a professional advisor and counselor and the school management should encourage school-parent partnerships through having frequent meetings and seminars between the teachers and parents as well as other stakeholders to improve students‟ discipline. Since the study was limited to only one Municipality in Tanzania, it was recommended that a similar study should be carried out in other Municipalities and regions in order to elicit more accurate national strategies for promoting students‟ discipline. Moreover, it was recommended that a similar study can be conducted in boarding schools and private schools so as to cover large area.