Enhancing Student Leaders' Contribution to Discipline Management: Strategies for Public Secondary Schools in Morogoro Municipality, Tanzania

This study explored the influence of student leaders’ participation in fostering discipline management in Public secondary schools in Morogoro Municipal, an area facing persistent challenges of student indiscipline, truancy, and a notable rise in student dropouts (e.g., 123 in 2019 to 230 in 2022). Thus, the study addressed strategies to be employed by educational stakeholders to enhance student leaders’ participation in fostering discipline management in public secondary schools. The study embraced a convergent design under the mixed research approach. The study depended on Participatory Decision Making Theory pioneered by notable contributors include Carole Pateman (1970) and the concept of Arnstein's Ladder of Citizen Participation (1969). Different methods including interviews and questionnaires were employed for data collection process. The study’s sample consisted 10 heads of schools, 10 Discipline teachers, 80 Teachers, and 50 student leaders. The sampling techniques used were stratified simple random sampling and purposive sampling techniques. The reliability of questionnaire was established at 0.82 Cronbach Alpha. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively and presented through frequencies, percentages and mean scores additionally, qualitative data were analyzed thematically and presented using narration and quotations. The study found actionable strategies as, provision of comprehensive training to student leaders’ by school administration, Teamwork and collaboration between student leaders’ and staff. Moreover, valuing student leaders’ and respecting their contributions found to be productive in ensuring their participation. The study concluded that for proper enhancement of school discipline student’s leaders ought to be involved on aspects of discipline management. Subsequently, the study recommended that the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology to allocate resources for leadership development, which will support student leadership training in all parts of the country.