Gender Differences in Decisions on Student Disciplinary Behaviours by Disciplinary Panels of Selected Kenyan Secondary Schools

Abstract

The study investigated gender differences in decisions on student disciplinary behaviours by selected Kenyan secondary school disciplinary panels which may be due to composition of disciplinary panels, perceptions of students presenting with disciplinary behaviours and behaviour expectations of students on the basis of school categories. The study employed mixed methods approach and collected both quantitative and qualitative data using questionnaire and interview protocol. Participants of the study comprised seventy-eight disciplinary panel members (45 makes and 33 females) of ten secondary schools. The results revealed gender differences in decision making behaviours by members of Kenyan secondary school disciplinary panels, gender differences in the perceptions of students presenting with disciplinary behaviours and differences between single-sex schools and coeducational schools on presenting disciplinary behaviours perceived to negatively affect disciplinary tones of schools, the latter possibly to indicate gender differences in behaviour expectations of students depending on categories of schools.

Key Words: Gender differences, disciplinary behaviours, disciplinary panels, decision making, secondary schools, Kenya