The Teacher as a Role Model in Character Development among High School Students: A Case of Selected Schools in Kikuyu Sub-County, Kiambu County

Josephine Mbithe Mutie – Scott Christian University, Kenya & Margaret Gathuku – Editor Timazi Africa, Kenya
Email:Jsephinembithe50@gmail.com

Received April 14, 2020; Revised May 5, 2020; Accepted May 31, 2020

Abstract: The Kenyan government has been making efforts both pre and post-independence towards value-based education. However the Kenyan students do not seem to display the desirable character and values, which could be evidenced by the violence in schools and the decay of morals among the young people. This study sought to establish the role of the teacher as a role model in character formation in a classroom setting selected secondary schools in Kiambu County. A sample of 304 participants was drawn from a target population of 1,013. Structured questionnaires were used for data collection from both teachers and students. The quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS and the qualitative data was analyzed through content analysis. The study established that the teachers are indeed aware of their role as teachers, models and guides for character development. The students indicated awareness of character formation and considered it important in their lives, however, it was clear that time was not deliberately allocated and neither were students given opportunities to practice the traits they were learning outside of school. Tension was also noted between the character traits emphasized and exams. The study concluded that even though the teachers indicated that they played the role of character guides in the classrooms, the students interpreted the traits taught in the light of the exams. This pointed out that traits like hard work, honesty and giving of rewards were all practiced in connection to passing exams. These were in turn overtaken by the negative effects of the ‘mean score’ culture like cheating in exams, which most students said they would, if they knew they would not be found out.