Administrative Strategies in Mitigating Middle Level Students’ Discipline in Public Secondary Schools in Rwanda

Abstract

School discipline continues to be an issue of concern among school administrators. However, in maintaining discipline in schools for a long time, educators have to device and implement disciplinary strategies that are non-coercive, yet assertive. This study aimed at investigating administrative strategies and levels of students’ discipline in public secondary schools in Rwanda. The age group of students considered was between 12 and 13 years. Using stratified and purposive sampling four head teachers and 60 teachers from a target population of 183 individuals were selected from four schools. The findings are that corrective strategies were appropriate for handling level 2 and 3 infractions while preventive strategies were appropriate in handling level 1 type of infractions.. The recommendations are that preventive and corrective strategies be used simultaneously within the provision of the stipulated law and the involvement of parents should be strengthened. Some strategies such as guidance and counseling should be implemented in schools by having qualified teachers in the area something that is lacking at the moment. Police intervention should strictly be limited to level 3 infractions.

Keywords: Administrators, strategies, discipline, infraction, behavior