Student-Teachers’ Experiences and Strategies of Managing Disruptive Behaviours in Tanzania Secondary Schools.

Abstract

This paper reports on student-teachers’ experiences during a six-week teaching practicum of disruptive classroom behaviours by students in selected Tanzanian secondary schools and the strategies that the student-teachers employed to manage them. Questionnaire and semi-structured interviews were employed to collect data from 70 student-teachers. Using qualitative thematic analysis and descriptive quantitative analysis strategies, it was revealed that student-teachers did very little to enhance appropriate classroom behaviours. Instead, they relied on punitive strategies such as punishment to deal with disrupting students. Reliance on punitive measures limited their ability to use positive feedback, tolerance and relational support strategies, which are regarded as more effective in fostering appropriate classroom behaviours by empowering students to take control of their own behaviour. These findings have important implications for teacher training programmes, and students learning. The paper concludes by asserting that like any other lessons, appropriate behaviours in classrooms need to be taught and nurtured not simply demanded.