Educational Administration and Rising Students’ Violence in Secondary School Milieu

Abstract

This study aims to examine educational administration and the rising incidence of students’ violent behaviours in secondary schools in Cameroon. School violence has numerous detrimental effects that prevent victims from learning adequately. Violence further makes the school environment unsafe. If school administrators are to solve this issue, they must understand this phenomenon and its implications on the educational system. This study examines the various causes of students’ violent behaviours and the role of school administrators in preventing and managing school violence. The mixed design was adopted for this study. Quantitative data was collected with the use of questionnaires. Using a purposeful sampling technique, 201 teachers were selected for the study. Documentary data was used to compliment qualitative data. Some of the causes of violent behaviours are socio-economic factors, family influences, peer pressure, media influence, and institutional factors. In order to mitigate this issue, school administrators can employ several approaches, some of which include training and professional development, policy formulation and implementation, understanding school violence, fostering a positive school climate, crisis management and response, community and parental involvement, and technology and surveillance. However, situational approaches are pertinent in addressing specific and contextual violent issues.