Published on July 2021 | Counselling, Gender, Education

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

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