Abstract
This study explores principals’ perspectives on managing learner discipline in secondary schools. The study was located in a qualitative approach and employed a generic qualitative design. A literature study was undertaken to tap into the existing knowledge base on discipline, indiscipline and the causes and effects of indiscipline. Data was collected by means of semi-structured interviews with five secondary school principals. Qualitative content analysis was employed to analyse the data and subsequently three themes and various sub-themes emerged from the study. Findings indicate that learner discipline in secondary schools is in a poor state and is deteriorating. The study further revealed strategies that principals currently use to manage learner discipline. These include positive discipline and prevention, discipline structures in school, stakeholder involvement and the school’s code of conduct. Various challenges that principals face in managing learner discipline in schools were identified, which are inadequate parental involvement, ineffective parental skills in fostering discipline and insufficient support from the Department of Education...
M.Ed. (Educational Leadership and Management)