Options to the Use of Suspension and Expulsion in Kenyan Institutions: A Literature Review

Abstract

This article compared the effectiveness of punitive strategies such as suspension and expulsion to mitigate behaviour disorders in Kenyan schools. Behaviour disorders witnessed in Kenyan schools include externalising and internalising behaviour disorders. Externalising behaviour disorders include bullying, aggression, disruption, acting out, fighting, violence, destruction of property, cheating, and stealing among others. Internalising behaviour disorders include depression, anxiety, social withdrawal, immaturity, negative talk, substance abuse, loneliness or guilt, sadness, suicidal feelings, nervousness, and irritability among others. Suspension and expulsion are the zero tolerance (ZT) strategies used in our institutions to curb behaviour disorders. Zero tolerance measures are guidelines for providing the harshest retribution possible to every student who goes against the laid down regulations. Corporal punishment is also used as a punitive measure in our institutions despite its prohibition in the Children’s Act 2001. Corporal punishment was recognised to offer minor data on appropriate action to take but only educate the person on the inappropriate behaviours to avoid. This article found that solitary disciplinary practices like suspension and expulsion may further prohibit poor academic performance and dropout. The article further found out the importance of training the heads of learning institutions on how to manage inappropriate behaviour disorders and the incorporation of other strategies such as guidance and counselling and the involvement of parents. Thus, it encourages Kenyan institutions to adopt School-Wide Positive Behavioural Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS), which is a non-condoning approach used in controlling school violence and misbehaviour of students that have shown positive results in an unsystematically controlled trial research to control school violence and misbehaviour of students. This article also found out the need for a Functional Behavioural Assessment (FBA) before intervening for a behaviour disorder. The aim of an FBA is to collect wide and particular data so as to comprehend the exact purpose of the student’s inappropriate behaviours.