ASSESSING THE EFFECTS OF SCHOOL DISCIPLINE ON THE RIGHTS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS IN TWO COLLEGES OF EDUCATION IN THE UPPER WEST REGION OF GHANA

Author Name: 1. Benjamin Boateng 2. Moses Kpelle 3. Amos Amuribadek Adangabe

Volume/Issue: 02/01

Country: Ghana

DOI NO.: 08.2020-25662434 DOI Link: https://www.doi-ds.org/doilink/07.2021-66257641/UIJIR

Affiliation:

1. PhD Fellow and Tutor Department of Social Sciences, Nusrat Jahan Ahmadiyya College of Education P. O. Box 71- Wa, Upper West Region of Ghana.
2. PhD Fellow and Tutor Department of Social Sciences, McCoy College of Education P. O. Box ND12- Nadowli, Upper West Region of Ghana.
3. PhD Fellow and Tutor Department of Education – Nusrat Jahan Ahmadiyya College of Education P. O. Box 71- Wa, Upper West Region of Ghana.

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the effects of school discipline on the rights of college students in Nusrat Jahan Ahmadiyya and McCoy Colleges of Education in Upper West region-Ghana. The study employed questionnaire and interview approaches to access data from the respondents. Questionnaires were administered to two hundred and ninety-two students (292) while in-depth interviews were conducted with the sixteen (16) teachers. The study found out that teachers clearly understood school discipline and students’ rights while majority of students demonstrated limited understanding of school discipline and their rights which pose a great threat to their ability to fight for such rights. The study revealed the effects of school discipline on students as undermining the dignity of the student as humans, creating poor relationship between students and their teachers, modeling poor behaviour that poses health risks to students and resulting in student truancy and school dropout. To protect student’s rights while ensuring effective school discipline, the study recommends: regular workshop and training for various stakeholders (school authorities, teachers and students) on the enforcement of code of discipline, rules and regulations for schools; continuous and systematic monitoring and supervision of the activities of students and teachers by principals, Board executives and other stakeholders.

Key words: Discipline School Discipline, Students’ Rights, Students’ Behaviour, Punishment.