Barriers to the Effective Implementation of Behavioural Strategies by Principals of State Secondary Schools in Mauritius

Abstract

One of the leadership role of the secondary school principal is learner discipline management. However, in the context of Mauritius, the behavioural strategies that they implement are found to be ineffective due to various barriers. This study examines the current barriers that are imbedded into the education system and which are obstacles to effective learner discipline management. A qualitative research approach was adopted in order to collect data on the barriers among principals, educators, parents, superintendents and learners. It was found that political interference of parents, the universal free transport system, too much bureaucracy when reporting cases of indiscipline to the Ministry of Education, a lack of collaboration between educators, the school superintendent and the principal, and a lack of parental involvement in learner discipline management in schools are the main barriers to the effective implementation of behavioural strategies by principals in the state secondary schools in Mauritius. Based on the findings, the study recommends that the Ministry of Education rethink about the educational policies in terms of free transport for learners and that the school principal, along with the parents, educators, learners and superintendent, sets up a school discipline plan that would adopt a collaborative management of the problem of learner discipline.