Conflict Management as a Tool for Restoring Discipline in Kenyan Public Secondary Schools

Conflict is a part and parcel of human organization all over the world. Therefore, potential for conflict exists because people have different needs, values, views and goals. In schools, internal conflicts occur because sometimes administrators, teachers and students have different perceptions and attitudes towards certain issues. The study examines how conflict management is used as a tool for restoring discipline in Kenyan secondary schools and it is guided by human needs theory. The study employed mixed methods approach which embraced both quantitative and qualitative methods to collect data from secondary students, headteachers and teacher counselors. This study has concluded that failure to train headteachers and teacher counselors on conflict resolution; management skills and a lack of clear communication among all the stakeholders constitute some of the causes of conflict in secondary schools. The study has recommended that conflict management and peace keeping skills should be incorporated into teacher education syllabuses