Implementation of the ban of physical punishment and its influence on pupil discipline in public primary schools in Kenya: a case study of emuhaya sub-county

Physical punishment and mental harassment for decades have been used as methods of managing pupil discipline in primary schools in Kenya. However there were outlawed vide the Basic Education Act, 2013. However, despite the ban, by the year 2015, Emuhaya Sub-County recorded a higher rate of indiscipline cases whereby Emuhaya Sub county recorded 833 (53%) cases, 644(43%) in Vihiga Sub-County, 543(37%) in Hamisi Sub county and 2750 (42%) at national level. The objective of the study was to establish the influence of implementation of ban of physical punishment on pupil discipline in Emuhaya Sub County. A conceptual framework consisting of implementation of ban of physical punishment as the independent variable and pupil discipline as the dependent variable was used. The results showed that the overall mean rating on extent of implementation of ban of physical punishment was 2.89, meaning the implementation of ban was rated as moderate. A significant positive relationship between physical punishment ban on implementation and level of pupil indiscipline was established, whereby the ban of physical punishment accounted for 35.9% of the improvement in the level of pupil indiscipline. The study concluded that there was a moderate positive relationship between the ban of physical punishment and pupil discipline. The study recommends that ban of physical punishment be fully implemented in primary schools. The study is significant in informing the stakeholders in education for example learners, teachers, policy makers and members of school management boards that the ban on physical punishment and mental harassment is indeed improving pupil discipline in public primary schools and should be implemented fully.