Disciplinary measures adopted by school management teams in dealing with teacher misconduct

Abstract

The study set out to investigate the disciplinary measures adopted by school management teams in dealing with teacher misconduct in Maseru Post Primary Schools. The specific objectives of this study were to identify school disciplinary measures against teacher misconduct in post primary schools; determine the challenges faced by school authorities in enforcing disciplinary measures in post primary schools; examine the role played by school management teams in addressing the issues of teacher misconduct in post primary schools and finally to suggest strategies that can be adopted by management teams to deal with teacher misconduct in post primary schools. The study was undertaken within which five schools in the Maseru City which were purposively selected. A qualitative survey was undertaken whereby principals, HOD’s and school governing board members were interviewed. There were three participants from each school and this resulted in a total sample of fifteen participants who were chosen purposively for the study. The study found that on the issue of disciplinary measure against teacher misconduct, the SMT’s use both preventive measures (formal and informal) and lawfully permitted measures in their schools against teacher misconduct. Those include sending teachers for rehabilitation, demotion, encouragement to resign and others such as issue of warnings (Verbal and written). With regard to the challenges, it was found that enforcement of discipline of teachers include their educational background, lack of fairness on the part of management, lack of remuneration for SGBs, legal framework and lack of training for both teachers and school authorities on issues related to teacher discipline.