Managing School Conflict through Effective Leadership: Best Practices in Secondary Schools

Abstract

The issue of student conflict has become a significant concern in secondary schools, as it directly affects student behavior, school climate, and academic performance. This study explored the school leaders’ perceptions about students conflicts at secondary level and  leadership strategies and practices used to manage these. It will identify the challenges faced by school leaders in managing student conflict. A qualitative research design was employed to gain an in-depth understanding of school leaders’ perspectives and practices. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews from 24 participants, including principals, vice principals, and head teachers working in secondary schools. The collected data was analyzed using thematic analysis, which led to the identification of key themes related to the nature, causes, prevention, and management of student conflict. The findings reveal that student conflict is a multi-dimensional phenomenon influenced by communication gaps, emotional immaturity, peer pressure, academic stress, and family-related factors. It also highlights the need for training programs for school leaders and teachers, strengthening counseling services, and promoting stakeholder collaboration to improve conflict management practices. The findings of this study contribute to the understanding of the relationship between leadership and student conflict management and provide valuable implications for educational leaders, policymakers, and practitioners.