RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCHOOL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SAFETY GUIDELINES ON DRUG ABUSE IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN GILGIL SUB-COUNTY, KENYA

Abstract

Drug abuse is a global, regional and national problem among students in secondary schools, due to the fact that it leads to poor academic performance and wide-ranging disciplinary challenges. In Kenya, in spite of the government issuing guidelines to ensure students’ safety, drug abuse is still witnessed among students in secondary schools. This research aimed at establishing the relationship between school management practices and implementation of safety guidelines on drug abuse in secondary schools in Gilgil Sub-county, Kenya. The specific objectives were: to determine the relationship between allocations of financial resources; to establish relationship between training of staff and students; to establish relationship between supervision; to examine relationship between communication with the school stakeholders, and implementation of safety guidelines on drug abuse in secondary schools in Gilgil Sub-County. This research was guided by the Open System Theory propounded by Ludwig Von Bertalanffy as stated by Michael Bastedo. A sample size of 18 Deputy Principals was purposively selected. Applying Krejcie and Morgan (1970) table, 322 students were sampled. Census was used to select a sample size of 18 principals and 18 heads of guidance and counselling department. This study response rate was 94.1%. The study tools used were an interview schedule for Principals and questionnaire for students, Deputy Principals and Heads of guidance and counselling department. The study instruments were submitted to the university supervisors and experts in education management and leadership to ascertain validity. Piloting was then done in three secondary schools, in Gilgil Sub-County. Cronbach alpha of 0.726 was obtained and therefore the tool was reliable. Data collected was verified and coded into SPSS version 24. Descriptive and inferential statistics were computed. Regression was used to test the hypothesis at 95% confidence level, with 0.05 as the level of significance. The qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis. This study finding revealed that there was a positive relationship between the management practices under study and students safety on drug abuse in Gilgil Sub-County. Further, the study recommended that all school stakeholders should embrace various management strategies for optimal implementation of the safety guidelines on drug abuse in secondary schools. For further studies the researcher suggested a study focusing on challenges faced in implementing safety guidelines on drug abuse in different locations in Kenya be carried out. Additionally, a study to investigate the best practices of disseminating information on drugs in secondary schools should be carried out.