Effect of school rules and regulations to the behavior of ICT students of PITMB

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION AND IT'S BACKGROUND TO THE PROBLEM.

Introduction
This chapter presented the background to the problem, statement of the
research problem, general and specific objective of the study, research questions as well
as significance of the study, limitations and delimitations and operative definitions of
research terms.

The educational environment plays a crucial role in shaping student behavior,

particularly within the context of technology-driven disciplines such as Information and
Communication Technology (ICT). At the Pagadian Institute of Technology Mahayag
Branch (PITMB), the implementation of school rules and regulations is intended to
foster a conducive learning atmosphere, promote discipline, and enhance academic
performance among students. However, the effectiveness and impact of these
regulations on student behavior warrant further exploration.
This study aims to qualitatively examine the perspectives and experiences of
ICT students at PITMB regarding the school rules and regulations. By understanding
how these guidelines influence their behavior both positively and negatively this
research seeks to uncover the underlying dynamics that affect student engagement,
motivation, and overall academic success.

Through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions, this research will
gather rich narratives from students, providing insights into their perceptions of the
rules, their compliance, and any resistance they may encounter. The findings will
contribute to a deeper understanding of the relationship between institutional policies
and student behavior, offering valuable implications for educators and administrators
in crafting effective regulations that align with the needs and realities of ICT students.

Background to the Problem

School rules and regulations are official directive and guidelines, offered
by school and the ministries responsible for education in general, with the aim of
controlling behavior of students (Suru, 2012). They are principles for conduct,
aimed at developing self discipline in students, and creating a harmonious
environment for effective teaching and learning process. They are necessary and
vital support for effective and successful management of secondary school
(Godfrey, 2016).

. Rules and regulations are needed in schools for controlling students discipline,
maintenance of order, safety, and respect for authority. They give moral instructions;
provide guideline for proper execution of duties, and for students academic
performance. Also, School rules and regulations are the backbone of proactive strategy
to reduce problems of indiscipline in secondary schools. Every school has given power
to establish school rules and regulations and both, teachers and students should act in
accordance to these rules (Nzokurum, 2017). School rules and regulations can be
compared to National Laws; they are like civil education because they teach students
the norms of citizenship. The Government of United Republic of Tanzania, provided
school rules and regulations in Education Act number 25 of 1978, with the similar aim
to control the problem of students indiscipline, such as truancy, theft, fighting,
pregnancy, dropout, vandalism and others. Rules and regulations also aim at having
responsible citizens and human resources in the future.
Students are expected to abide to all school rules and regulations by following
school routine like cleanliness, proper wearing of school uniform, respect, attendance,
greetings and others. When there is discipline at the school, it means there are order,
peace and harmony, hence conducive teaching and learning environment (Suru, 2012)
Despite the presence of school rules and regulations in secondary schools with its
importance, disruptive behavior among ict students, have been and, are still, a common
challenge facing many secondary schools all over the world (Alli, 2014). There are
many cases of classroom indiscipline among students in the United Kingdoms
(Kagoiya, 2018). More students indiscipline had also been reported from United States
of America, Chicago, etc. (Chand, 2012)
In Africa, problems of students’ indiscipline have been reported from Southern
Province of Sierra Leone, where there are violence, students defy teachers and break
school rules (Moigua, 2019). Also in South Africa, since the passage of legislation
banning corporal punishment, disruptive behaviors in secondary schools had become
an issue of national concern. (Meier, 2010). Students indiscipline have also reported
in Kenya, Ghana, Botswana and Nigeria. (Ongaki, 2016) In PITMB, The issue of
indiscipline of students to date, still remains as a big challenge to educational
stakeholders, administrators and all teachers in PITMB (Semali, 2016). Indiscipline
problems in some schools, have been main hindrance to effective teaching and learning,
due to student violations to school rules and regulations (Yaghambe, 2013). It was also
found that majority of students and teachers were unaware of school rules and
regulations (Muneja, 2013).
The challenge of students indiscipline, has raised a concern for teachers,
policy makers, society and the educational stake holders in general. This is because In
the learning process, discipline is very important if meaningful learning is required, but
the most important question is about the effectiveness of school rules and regulations
used to control students’ discipline in PITMB. This is crucial and critical task for
teachers and the society in general (Ngwokabuenui, 2015).

Various studies have been conducted on effectiveness of school rules and

regulations in controlling students’ discipline. One common idea from those studies is
that, rules and regulations create good discipline, and good discipline creates good
image of the school, and prepares the learners for the future (Kounin, 2013). Good
discipline also help students to govern their own behavior (Galabanwa, 2020), Other
studies, despite emphasizing rules and regulations, acknowledged that, Provision of
education in any society, aimed at building moral, intellectual, social and spiritual
development of the young generations (Malekela, 2018). Students indiscipline has
several effects to the nation, the school itself and to individual student. Such effects
includes a school cannot be successful if students do not obey school rules and
regulations
School rules and regulations are paramount of all types of learning. A student
will not follow the routine without rules, and without discipline will not know what is
good and what is not good, and there will be a misuse of resources in educational sector
(Mehta, 2016). It is from this background that this study investigated the effectiveness
of school rules and regulations, used to control students’ discipline in secondary
schools.
Statement of the Problem
School rules and regulations are very important in management of students
discipline in PITMB. All ICT student in PITMB have rules and regulations that are
made by school administration and those made by the ministries responsible for
education. The role of school rules and regulations is to control discipline. The purpose
of controlling students’ discipline is to make students conform to acceptable and desired
norms at the school and outside the school, to make them good future citizens and
human resources and to ensure effective teaching and learning processes (Komba,
2012).

Achievement of educational goals of ICT student in PITMB depends

largely on the students positive discipline. ICT students are expected to adhere to
school rules and regulations by respecting teachers, attending to the school daily,
keeping school properties safe, stop involving in cultism and show good relationship
with one another (Ngwokabuenui, 20015)

Despite school rules and regulations being made and available in ICT
students in PITMB, still there was an outbreak of indiscipline behaviors among
students. Many students were found walking around outside classes rooms during
lessons, they were explicitly improperly dressed their school uniform. There were also,
cases of trunci, dropout, cultism and disobedience of the students. These behaviors
violated school rules and regulations, hence indiscipline of students (Maing, 2017).
From this gap, this study, investigated the effectiveness of rules and regulations used
to control students behavior in ICT student.

Scope and limitation

This study was confined on investigating effectiveness of school rules in ICT

students. The study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of school rules and
regulations in controlling students’ indiscipline in ICT student in PITMB. Investigating
causes and control of students indiscipline; and ways of improving effectiveness of
school rules and regulations. In this case, the researcher, considered school rules and
regulations as independent variables, and students’ discipline, as dependent variable.

In doing this research, the researcher expected to face a problem of time to

reach and meet the selected samples and respondents. The problem of time was met
by doing sampling to select schools with high population of students.

Significance of the Study

This study will be beneficial to teachers, educational officers, parents,
policy makers and the government in general, as will disclose the status of effectiveness
of rules and regulations in our ICT student. This will be disclosed by respondents of
the research mainly being teachers, students and educational officer. It is expected that;
the study will also help all school administrators and educational stake holders to
realize causes of students indiscipline in our school, and ways of improving
effectiveness of school rules and regulations in order to control students behaviors.

The study will persuade the government to rethink and revise banning of
corporal punishment and other rules that demoralizes teachers to work on improving
discipline of students. Furthermore, this study is expected to build cooperation among
educational stakeholders, thus strengthen rules and facilitate control of students
behaviors. The study is hoped to contribute to the body of knowledge, regarding issues
of school rules and regulations in secondary schools in PITMB.
Finally, the study will help other writers on the cases of school rules and regulations
in response to students discipline.
Definitions of Terms

This section provided definitions of various fundamental concepts used in the

research, in order to provide a common understanding among readers and about the
phenomenon dealt by the study. The definitions were for the purpose of this study

Immoralities
Immoralities in this study means; types of behavior which are not appropriate
according to school rules and according to norms of the family and society. It is the
behavior which is not desired and not accepted.

Unpleasant school Rules

In this study unpleasant school rules, are the rules with restrictions for its
enforcement. For example, corporal punishment, teachers are restricted from
administering corporal punishment to a misbehaved student until, they have obtained
a written permit from the head of school.

Educational Stakeholders
Educational Stakeholders in this study are the parents, teachers, students and
officials responsible for the welfare and success of a school.

School Climate
In this study, School climate means relationship among teachers, students and
other workers of the school . School climate can be friendly that is good relationship,
or enmity that is misunderstandings.
Family Values

As applied to this study means, moral norms that govern ways of leaving and
behaving in the family. Every member of the family must live according to these
norms.
Peer Group

In this study, peer group means fellow secondary school students with similar
age, interest and behavior. They are age mate companions or fellow students, girls or
boys.
Interventions

In this study, intervention implies the trend where someone else; interferes
with the decisions reached by teachers and school administration in general, upon
disciplinary issues of a student or students.

School Rules Inaccessibility

In this study it implies that, the school rules and regulations are not available
to students and teachers, making them not to understand what and, how it is supposed
to be. Students and teachers are unaware of the rules and regulations.

School Rules Enforcement

In this study, it implies an intentional effort by school administration, to
ensure there is compliance with school rules and regulations to students and teachers.
PITMB- Pagadian Institute of Technology Mahayag Branch