Teachers and Students’ Perception of The Impact of Life Skills Training on Students Behavior in Secondary Schools in Maara Sub County, Kenya

Abstract

Cases of violence, strikes, alcoholism, drug and substance abuse, teenage suicidal tendencies and irresponsible sexual behavior among others are a continuous challenge in secondary schools in Kenya. The government of Kenya through the Ministry of Education introduced Life Skills Education (LSE), with the aim of promoting positive changes in learners‟ behavior both in primary and secondary schools. Thus, the main objective of this study was to establish teachers and students‟ perception on the impact of life skills training on students‟ behavior in secondary schools in Maara Sub –County, Kenya. The study was based on Erikson‟s theory of psychosocial stages of development and social learning theory by Bandura. The study applied the descriptive research design. The target population was 19,857 from the 54 public and private secondary schools. Schools were sampled through stratified and purposive sampling method, 22 sampled, 330 Form three students and 44 teachers were sampled through simple random sampling method. The data collection instrument was a questionnaire with both open and closed ended questions, covering the study objectives. A pilot study was also conducted in Meru south Sub- County, to ascertain the instrument‟s reliability. The validity of the instrument was improved with the help of the supervisors and experts from department of education before administering the instruments to the participants. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics using computer Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 25. The study findings indicated that through life skill training, students are able to make right decisions, become more critical before making conclusion on matters, able to solve problems and become more assertive. The study findings will help the school administrations to emphasize on life skills training in schools to produce positive behaviour in students. Principals need to acquire relevant teaching and learning materials to make life skills training easy