Effectiveness of Student Councils in Conflict Resolutions and Communication in Secondary School Management in Nyeri County, Kenya

Schools in Nyeri County continue to face diverse conflicts in the day to day running of the schools. Amongst these conflicts include burning of school dormitory at Giakaibei Secondary in Mathira in 2016; injuring of deputy principal at Kirimara Boys High School in school riots in the same school in 2018; and school unrests in Giakabii High School, Watuka High School, Wamagana Girls, and Mwiyogo Girls in 2016. To mitigate the negative consequences of conflicts, there is need for conflict resolutions. This study sought to examine effectiveness of student councils in conflict resolutions and communication in secondary school management in Nyeri County, Kenya. Amongst the objectives of the study included examination of the challenges affecting student councils in communication for effective school Management in Nyeri County and establishing the challenges affecting student councils in conflict resolutions for effective school Management in Nyeri County, Kenya. Amongst the challenges that student councils faced in conflict resolution included lack of skills in conflict resolution, making decisions based on friendships, and threats from other students amongst others. The study thus noted need for organized forums to train students on conflict resolutions as well as need for guidance and counselling. The study found the communication challenges of the student councils to be poor masterly of English and Kiswahili language, lack of communication channels, and speaking in vernacular. The communication challenges of student councils can be mitigated through use of suggestion boxes, banning of vernacular languages, and encouragement of conversation without fear of intimidation.

One of the mechanisms that have been used in conflict resolutions within secondary schools is the use of student councils. Ogol & Thinguri (2017) indicates that the education act of 1998 mandates the principals to establish the school councils in their schools and support its functions. According to Murage, Mwaruvie, & Njoka (2017) student councils refer to student leadership bodies that are elected by fellow students. Amongst the key functions of the school councils include the participation of the school councils in the conflict management within the schools. In this context, Vundi, Majanga, & Odollo (2014) notes that the Kenya Secondary Schools Student Councils (KSSSC) which is an umbrella body of the student councils recognizes the involvement of the student councils in conflict resolution. This is enshrined in article I section 11 of the KSSSC constitution that captures the commitment of the organization in management of the school conflicts (Vundi et al., 2014).
This study seeks to examine the effectiveness of the student councils in conflict resolutions and communication in secondary school management in Nyeri County, Kenya. There has been several school conflicts in Nyeri County including burning of school dormitory at Giakaibei Secondary in Mathira in 2016; injuring of deputy principal at Kirimara Boys High School in school riots in the same school in 2018; and school unrests in Giakabii High School, Watuka High School, Wamagana Girls, and Mwiyogo Girls in 2016 (Wanzala & Muinde, 2018).

ii.Research Objectives
The study will be based on the following objectives; (i) To establish the challenges affecting student councils in communication for effective school Management in Nyeri County, Kenya (ii) To establish the challenges affecting student councils in conflict resolutions for effective school Management in Nyeri County, Kenya

Student Councils and Conflict Resolution
One of the main reasons for student councils establishment was the conflict resolution aspects. Focusing on the general high schools in Kenya, Ogol & Thinguri (2017) undertook a study that sought to examine the influence of effectiveness of student leadership on leaners' discipline management aspects. The study was qualitative in nature and in that context used content analysis aspects. The challenges that the study documented in respect to the student councils and conflict resolution aspects included some student councils were not supported by the management, lack of training of student councils on their mandates, and school management not embracing democracy that is present in schools.
In Kirinyaga east district, Murage (2017) undertook a study that sought to examine challenges facing student councils in discipline management aspects. The study used a target population composed of principals, teachers, members of student councils, and students both in day and boarding schools. Murage (2017) documented that the student councils faced diverse challenges in seeking to effect conflict management. These challenges included being reported to school authorities, parental interference with the student councils, being victimized by fellow students, being treated like social outcasts, and being targets of violence. The study concluded that the student councils challenges in discipline management emanated from poor induction of the student councils, poor support from the school administration, and in adequate consultation of the school governance. In this context, Murage (2017) recommended that the ministry of education should organize capacity building for the school stakeholders in respect to the role of school councils.
In Zambia, Mboyonga (2018) examined the influence student councils in curbing student riots in the country. The study was a metadata analysis that analysed other studies in respect to the study phenomenon. Amongst the challenges that the student councils faced in conflict management included bureaucracy; adult domination; tokenism, teacher opposition, lack of feedback and training, and irregular meetings owing to the busy academic calendar.

Iv.Research Methodology
The study was based on the descriptive research design. The descriptive research design seeks to give factual information on the subject phenomenon as the phenomenon is on the ground (Saunders, Lewis, & Thornhill, 2007). Structured questionnaires were utilized for the purpose of data collection due to ease of data collection and analysis. The sample size of the study constituted a sample of 178 boys and 180 girls who were members of student councils.

v.Research Findings Student Councils Challenges in Conflict Resolution
The study sought to determine the challenges facing student councils in the management of conflict resolution. The results are displayed in Table 1.  Table 1 indicates the existence of various circumstantial challenges facing student council members in the management of conflict resolution duties. The respondents felt that poor mediation skills; lack of skills in conflict resolution and show of favouritism as well as threats from other student were the main challenges that faced by student councils in conflict resolution in public boarding secondary schools. Further, it was noted that most Council member's makes decisions based on friendship or based on whether the student is senior or junior in the school. That undermined the participation of student council in resolving conflict emanating from students' thus impacting negatively in management of public boys' and girls' boarding secondary schools.

Enhancing Participation in Conflict Resolution
The study sought to find out the suggestions of what can be done to address the challenge faced by student councils in executing their conflict resolution roles. The results are displayed in Table 2.

Table 2: Enhancing Participation in Conflict Resolution
Conflict Resolutions Strategies Tally Organized forums to train students in conflict resolution 24 Guidance and counselling counselling 27 Guide SC in sorting out hard issues reported 3 Sensitize student on conflict resolution 7 Students should be advised to respect their leaders 3 Encourage upright behaviour and characters 10 SC should first win student respect 5 Advise the student to listen to advice given by SC 5 Involve student in decision making 8 Address nepotism and stop favouritism 8 The results contained in Table 2 indicate the respondents' suggestions as to how participation of student councils enhance conflict resolution. The respondents suggested guidance and counselling; organization of forums to train student councils on conflict resolution strategies and encouragement of upright behaviour and characters in order to resolve conflicts among students. This will go a long way to creating a cohesive learning environment in public boys' and girls' boarding secondary schools.

Participation of Student Council in Communication
An item had been introduced in the questionnaire which sought to establish the participation of student council in communication in enhance management of public boys' and girls' boarding secondary school whose finding are presented as follows. The study therefore sought to establish the influence of participation of student councils in communication to enhance management of public boys' and girls' boarding secondary schools. A Five level Likert scale items measured the participation of student councils in communication. The pertinent results are presented in Table 3.  Table 3 show that the overall mean score of communication was 3.89 in both boys' and girls' schools. The items that student councils members listen to students' issues had the highest overall mean score of 4.26 for boys' school compared to 4.29 of girls' school. The trust of student councils by school administration had the highest mean score of 4.47 for girls' school compared to 4.25 for boys' school. The lowest overall means score for boys' school was recorded by aspect of giving timely communication on issues by student councils to the school administration (mean score=3.60, SD=1.32) while on shaping opinion of the school administration by the student councils was lower in girls' school with a mean of 3.22 and SD of 1.36. This implies that the respondents were in agreement on most aspect of communication by student councils.

Challenges of Communication in School Management
The study sought to find out the challenges facing student councils participation in communication in public boys' and girls' boarding secondary schools and results are displayed in Table 4.