Conflict Management Approaches and Striking in Selected Secondary Schools in Mbarara Municipality

ABSTRACT The study focused on the relationship between conflict management approaches and striking in Uganda with specific reference to selected secondary schools in Mbarara Municipality-Mbarara district. The objectives of the study included; an establishment of the influence of administrative responses on striking, identification of the influence of school committees on striking, ascertaining whether staffing influences striking and establishing the influence of institutional responses to the prevalence of striking. The study used cross sectional and descriptive research designs and a sample of 100 respondents was collected from five schools. Both simple and purposive sampling techniques were used to select the respondents. Different data collection methods were used during the study like questionnaires and interviews. Data was analyzed using SPSS computer package. Results indicate that strikes are prevalent in most schools of Mbarara Municipality due to the poor management approaches. PTA was pronounced as having a major role in addressing strikes in secondary schools although it has not been much engaged in conflict management approaches. Further findings reveal that in most secondary schools there is still poor staff motivation, followed by lack of managerial skills and these have tended to demobilize staff against controlling strikes in secondary schools. The institutional responses provided are not properly followed by schools administration leading to the occurrence of strikes in most secondary schools of Mbarara Municipality. The study concluded that control oriented conflict management approaches result into dissatisfaction among organizational members. The benefits of functional conflict will not be realized in a school when the headteacher allows only one way communication and dominates organizational processes. Institutional discipline seems to be the most appropriate institutional response that can control the rate of strikes in secondary schools once it is well promoted. The study recommended that strategic and inclusive conflict management approaches were crucial in curbing down strikes in secondary schools for improved performance.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION. ......................................................................................................................... i

APPROVAL ................................................................................................................................ ii

DEDICATION. .......................................................................................................................... iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................ iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS. ............................................................................................................ v

LIST OF TABLES. .................................................................................................................... vii

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .................................................................................................... viii

ABSTRACT. ............................................................................................................................... ix

CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................................................... ..... 1

INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... I

IO. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ I

1.1 Background to the Study ..................................................................................................... 1

1.1.1. Historical Background ..................................................................................................... I

1.1.2. Theoretical perspective ................................................................................................... 4

1.1.3. Conceptual perspective ................................................................................................... 5

1.2 Statement of the problem ................................................................................................. 8

1.3 Purpose of the Study ........................................................................................................... 9

1.4 Objectives of the study ........................................................................................................ 9

1. 5. Research Questions ............................................................................................................. 9

1.5.0 Scope of the study .......................................................................................................... JO

1.5.1 Geographical Scope ...................................................................................................... 10

1. 5. 3 Time scope .................................................................................................................... .. 10

1. 6. Significance of the study ................................................................................................... 11

1. 7. Conceptual Frame Work ................................................................................................... 12

1.8. Operational Definition of Key Terms and Concepts ......................................................... 13

CHAPTER TWO. ............................................................................................................ .......... 14

LITERATURE REVIEW ........................................................................................................... 14

2. 0. Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 14

2.1. Effects of administrative responses on striking in secondary schools ............................. 14

2.2. The influence of school committees on striking in secondmy schools ............................. 21

2.3. The influence of staffing on striking in seconda1y schools ............................................... 23

2. 5 Synthesis of Literature review ............................................................................................ 30

CHAPTER THREE. .................................................................................................................. 31

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................... 31

3. 0. Introduction. ...................................................................................................................... 31

3.1 Research Design ............................................................................................................... 31

3.1 Study Population .............................................................................................................. 31

3.2 Sampling Strategies .......................................................................................................... 32

3.3. Sample size ........................................................................................................................ 33

3.4. Data collection Methods ................................................................................................... 34

3.4.1 Primary Data Methods ................................................................................................... 34

3.4.1.1 Interviewing. .............................................................................................................. 34

3.4.1.2 Questionnaire method ............................................................................................... 34

3.4.2 Data Collection Instruments ..................................................................................... 34

V

3. 4. 2.1 Structured Questionnaire .......................................................................................... 3 4

3.4.2.2 Interview guide .......................................................................................................... 35

3.5. Secondary Data Methods .................................................................................................. 35

3. 5.1. Reviewing of data ........................................................................................................... 35

3. 6. Data Quality Control/Pretesting ....................................................................................... 35

3. 6.1. Validity of the Instruments ............................................................................................. 3 6

3. 6.2 Reliability of Data Collection Instruments ..................................................................... 37

3. 7. Data Analysis .................................................................................................................... 38

3.8. Limitations of the Study .................................................................................................... 39

3.8. Ethical Considerations ...................................................................................................... 39

CHAPTER FOUR .................................................................................................................... 41

PRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION OF RESULTS ................................................... 41

4. 0. Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 41

4.1 Demographic Characteristics of the Respondents ........................................................... 41

4.1.1. Age of the Respondents (school administrators and students) ...................................... 41

4.1.2. Sex of the respondents .................................................................................................... 43

4.2. Influence of administrative responses on striking in secondary schools of Mbarara

Municipality ................................................................................................................... 45

4.2.1. Frequency of use of various conflict management approaches in addressing striking in

secondary schools .......................................................................................................... 5 0

4.2.2. Causes a/Strikes in secondary schools ......................................................................... 52

4.3. Role of school committees on striking in secondary schools of Mbarara Municipality ... 54

4.3.1 Committees and management organs in the selected secondwy schools ..................... 55

4.3.2 Functions a/School Committees in relation to striking in secondary schools ............. 56

4.3.3 Knowledge of/unctions and roles by committee members ............................................ 57

4.3.4 What committees have done to combat strikes in secondary schools ........................... 57

4.3.5 Challenges faced by school committees in combating strikes in schools ...................... 61

4.4. Influence of staffing on striking in secondary schools of Mbarara Municipality ............ 62

4. 4.1 Procedures of staff recruitment used in secondary schools .......................................... 62

4.4.2 Relationship between staff and school managers .......................................................... 63

4.4.3 Challenges faced by staff in controlling strikes ............................................................ 65

4.4.4 Influence a/Staffing on striking in secondary schools .................................................. 65

4.5. Influence of institutional culture to the prevalence of striking in secondary schools of

Mbarara Municipality ................................................................................................... 69

DISCUSSION, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................. 73

5. 0. Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 7 3

5.1. Discussion of Results ........................................................................................................ 73

5.1.1. Effect of administrative responses on striking in secondary schools ............................ 73

5.1.2. Role a/School Committees in managing conflicts ........................................................ 75

5.1. 3. Staffing influence on striking in secondary schools ...................................................... 7 6

5.1.4. Influence of institutional culture to the prevalence of striking in secondary schools ... 77

5.2. Conclusions ...................................................................................................................... 79

5.3. Recommendations ............................................................................................................. 80

5.4 Recommendations for Further Research .......................................................................... 82

REFERENCES ......................................................................................................................... 83

Appendix 1: Questionnaire for Headteachers and Teachers ................................................... 90