Suggestion Boxes as A Principals’ Communication Strategy and Management of Students’ Discipline During Covid 19 Era in Public Secondary Schools in Kisasi Sub- County, Kenya

This study sought to investigate principals' use of suggestion boxes as a communication strategy in management of students’ discipline during  Covid 19 Era in public secondary schools in Kisasi Sub-County, Kitui County, Kenya. The study objectives sought to establish the availability of  suggestion boxes in schools for management of students’ discipline and to determine the frequency at which Suggestion Boxes were opened by the  Principal during Covid 19 era. The study targeted 20 principals, 140 teachers who consisted of 20 deputy principals, 20 heads of departments,  guidance and counseling, 20 form four class teachers and 20 presidents of the students’ council from which a sample of 18 principals, 54 teachers,  and 18 students were picked using census sampling, making a total of 90 respondents. Descriptive survey research design was used in the study.  Data collection was done using Questionnaires. Data was analyzed with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Both  quantitative and qualitative data generated from the study was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Qualitative data generated from the study was  organized into themes based on common responses and reported in a narrative form. Quantitative data was presented using frequency distribution  and cross tabulation tables. The study established from majority of the principals 55.6% that they had suggestion boxes in their schools  and only 44.4% of the schools did not have them. The study concluded that use of suggestion boxes could help in alleviating most of the  students’ related indiscipline issues during Covid-19 era. The study recommended that more schools should be encouraged to have adequate  suggestion boxes. The suggestion boxes should be strategically placed in their premises and opened regularly

Influence of Principals’ Use of Collaborative Decision Making on Students’ Discipline in Public Secondary Schools in Kenya

The management of discipline has been and continues to be a thorny issue globally for educational managers. Collaborative decision making is one of the alternative disciplinary methods that governments have come up with for management of students’ discipline in schools to replace corporal punishment. This paper sought to investigate the influence of principals’ use of collaborative decision making as an alternative disciplinary on students’ discipline in public secondary schools. The study objective sough to establish the extent to which principals’ use of class meetings for collaborative decision making as an alternative disciplinary method influences students’ discipline in public secondary schools. The study employed Ex post facto research design and targeted 333 public secondary schools in Kitui County, Kenya. Stratified proportionate sampling and purposive sampling were used to select the sample size. Questionnaires and interview guides were used for data collection. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse, tabulate and present data. The Chi-square (x2) test was used to determine the strength of association between holding class meetings for collaborative decision making and students’ discipline and to test whether the observed relationship is significant or not. The study established that collaborative decision making was done within the school set up to enhance discipline. Of the principals contacted, 83.7 per cent indicated that there was use of class meetings as an alternative disciplinary method. Results of chi square had a P-value of 0.373. This indicates that there is no significant difference between class meetings for collaborative decision making and students’ discipline. The study concluded that there is no significant difference between holding class meetings with students for collaborative decision making and students’ discipline. The study recommends an improvement in implementing the resolutions arrived at during class meetings for this could lower tensions regarding areas that could be potentially divisive

Flowering margins support natural enemies between cropping seasons

Here we investigated how agricultural landscapes support natural pest regulating insects between cropping seasons; an important challenge in Pest Management by Small-Holder Farmers so aligns with this special issue. Smallholders in East Africa clear margins to provide fodder for cattle or livestock or simply to reduce the ingression of weeds into crop fields. We show that there was a significant seasonal variation in plant species richness and diversity around crops and the abundance of margin plants was strongly linked to abundance of natural enemies in the off season. The time since harvesting was also a significant factor influencing the overall abundance of natural enemies. Our paper reinforces our understanding of the importance flowering plants in agricultural systems as a refuge for natural enemies and other beneficial insects but uniquely emphasising the time between cropping seasons. Improving agricultural landscapes between crops to better support invertebrates will lead to more effective natural pest regulation early in the following crop with positive outcomes for the farmers and their families

Flowering margins support natural enemies between cropping seasons

IntroductionPopulations of natural enemies of insect pests are declining owing to agricultural intensification and indiscriminate use of pesticides, and this may be exacerbated in agricultural systems that clear all margin plants after the cropping season for other uses such as fodder. Retaining a diversity of non-crop flowering vegetation outside the cropping season may support more resilient and effective natural pest regulation.MethodsWe tested the potential for non-crop vegetation to support natural enemies in fields across two locations after harvesting the primary crops of lablab and maize.ResultsA total of 54 plant species were recorded across the sites in Kenya with 59% of them being annuals and 41% perennials. There was a significant seasonal variation in plant species richness (ANOVA: F1, 16 = 33. 45; P< 0.0001) and diversity (ANOVA: F1, 16 = 7.20; P = 0.0511). While time since harvesting was a significant factor influencing the overall abundance of natural enemies (ANOVA: F2, 1,133 = 8.11; P< 0.0001), they were generally higher in abundance in locations with margin plants or where a diversity of margin plants was observed.DiscussionThese findings demonstrate that flowering plants in agricultural systems offer refuge and alternative food for natural enemies and potentially other beneficial insects between cropping seasons. The conservation of natural enemies between crops may lead to more effective natural pest regulation early in the following crop, thus reducing reliance on insecticides application