Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to investigate rewards and punishment as a means of
promoting discipline in some selected schools in the Jaman North District. The study
was, therefore, a descriptive sample survey. The study population was made of 688
teachers and students. Random sampling technique was used to select 5 out 45 schools in
the district. Proportional stratified random sampling technique was used to select 180
male and female students. On the other hand, Disproportional stratified random sampling
technique was use to ensure fair representation of male and female teachers. The sample
size totaled 224 respondents. A self –designed Likert-type scale questionnaire was used
to collect data for the study. Frequency and percentage analysis were performed on the
data. The results indicated that teachers and students share similar perceptions on all the 5
research questions. The findings were that: (i) There is similarity in perceptions of
teachers and students on the frequency of occurrence of acts of indiscipline in the
schools. (ii) Teachers and students agreed on the degree of seriousness of various acts of
indiscipline. (iii) Teachers and students had similar perceptions on the forms of
punishment used to control indiscipline. (iv) Teachers and students shared similar
perceptions on the forms of rewards used to promote discipline. (v) Teachers and students
shared the view that teachers had the tendency to use more punishments than rewards as a
means of discipline. (vi) Teachers and students appeared to share the belief that
punishment is more effective than rewards as a means of discipline. It is recommended
that the District Director of Education should take responsibility to ensure that corporal
punishment is actually abolished as it has been banned by the G. E.S. Teachers should be
trained to use more positive approaches to school discipline. Workshops should be
organized to sensitize students on the effects of indiscipline on instructional time and the
importance of self –discipline. Teachers should be good models for their students always
and have a genuine interest and positive outlook to help students to become responsible
citizens. Further research should be conducted on the effectiveness of specific types of
rewards and punishment on student discipline. Also, studies could be conducted on the
relationship between school indiscipline and students achievement.
Description:
A Project Report in the Department of Educational Leadership, Faculty of
Education and Communication Sciences, submitted to the School of Research and
Graduate Studies, University of Education, Winneba, in partial fulfilment of the
requirements for the award of Master of Arts (Educational Leadership) degree
DECEMBER, 2018
