Management Challenges Occasioned By Drug Abuse In Secondary Schools In Mbeere North District, Embu County

ABSTRACT

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate into the management challenges occasioned by drug abuse in secondary schools in Mbeere North District and the possible solutions to these challenges. Out of the twenty seven (27) schools, nine (9) were purposively sampled. This represents 30% of the schools in this district. Out of the nine (9) schools, one (1) was girls boarding, one (1) was boys boarding, three (3) were mixed day schools, three (3) were mixed day and boarding and one (1) was private. Each school provided a total of forty (40) respondents, ten (10) students from each form, the deputy head teacher and one (1) teacher for guidance and counselling. Three hundred and sixty (360) students were randomly selected and nine (9) deputies and nine (9) teachers purposively sampled because they were from the same schools to facilitate consistency in the research process. Seven objectives were covered in the study. One self-report questionnaire with both closed and open ended questions was administered to each student and teacher counsellors. Students’ questionnaires were filled and collected, there and then. Teacher’s questionnaires were given a day before and collected on the day when students were filling theirs. Data was collected by use of questionnaires and analyzed quantitatively. The results were presented in frequency distribution and percentages. Data analysis was carried out using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) utilizing descriptive and statistical analysis procedures. Descriptive statistics used included frequency and percentages. The following were the findings of the study; the commonly abused drugs in these schools included: alcohol, cigarettes, khat and sleeping pills. Majority of the students (63.1%) indicated that the main source of drugs abused by students was kiosks/small shops. Majority (66.7 %) of the students indicated that the main problem of drug abuse by colleagues was lack of concentration. The students who abused drugs turned to stealing money and property and also encouraged damages on school property. A drug prevention programme has been put in place in the schools according to majority of the students (69.4%) and students were exposed to drug prevention programmes. Teachers in the guidance and counselling departments and BOG/PTA were involved in guidance and counselling. To curb drug abuse, all the teacher counsellors and the deputy headteachers suggested that effective guidance and counselling and creating awareness among students should be carried out. Based on the findings of the study, the following recommendations were made:-secondary schools should have qualified guidance and counselling teachers who would help students struggling with drugs. Since in secondary schools the cane is not used to discipline students, emphasis should be put on guidance and counselling to control indiscipline among the students. Students who are identified as drug abusers should not be expelled from schools but should be accepted in the community and be helped through guidance and counselling. Although the Ministry of Education has integrated drug abuse in some subject, it should consider developing a curriculum on effects of drug abuse. This will ensure that all students are informed about dangers of drug abuse in order to make informed choices.