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PROBLEM OF INDISCIPLINE AND ITS IMPACT ON ACADEMIC ACTIVITY IN SECONDARY SCHOOL

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate the problem of indiscipline and its impact on academic activity in Edo State. The incessant occurrence of chaotic and some time criminal behaviour not only by the audit population but also the students of this country in recent times has since begun to give cause for concern, particularly to parents, government and school administrators. Questionnaires from a sample of five secondary schools students consisting of hundred (100) secondary school students were selected at random in Edo State. Among other things, it was found that the societal customs and way of life can in one way or other influence the positive or negative behaviour of the child, that parental absence and poor moral upbringing of the child can plague the secondary school students of acts of indiscipline and that children from a high socio-economic background can be engaged in acts of indiscipline as well as children from the low or middle socio-economic background 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Indiscipline may be said to be as old as the time when men started to organize himself into society and consequently made laws to order the affairs of men in a social set up. In the Holy Scripture Cain exhibited some form of indiscipline when he out of envy murdered his brother Abel in their abode. We have heard of people engaging in indiscipline behaviour on daily basis. Many of our students today especially those in our secondary school exhibit various forms of indiscipline in form of juvenile delinquency. This could be in the form of arson, murder and robbery etc. these acts involve both adult and youths, the rate of indiscipline tends to be on the increase in the modern world. Africa is not an exception of this general increase in the young stars, negative attitude to constituted authority. This rate of indiscipline tends to be on an increase despite the various measure taken by successive government most especially Nigeria, to curb the menace among our students so as to bring about a socially stable society.

We read our newspapers and hear from the electronic media of students in the country committing all forms of crimes ranging from the violation of parental regulations to truancy, stealing, assault, robbery and other socially undesirable behaviours. Available information shows that our students are most frequently implicated in the acts of indiscipline that in every five caught for a criminal offence; there are usually young stars. These offence ranges from drugs and robbery. During the military rule, several measures were put in place to curb the trends, on its assumption to power on the 31st December 1983, the government of general Mohammuadu Buhari (Rtd) made it known that one of the causes of our problems in our country (Nigeria) was indiscipline and as such, the war against indiscipline (WAI) was introduced into all aspects of the life of the nation. Also our past head of states, General Sani Abacha (Lt) on assumption I office (1993) launched the war against indiscipline and corruption (WAIC), Presdient Olusegun Obasanjo also launched independent corrupt practices commission (ICPC) and economic financial crime commission (EFCC). This was aimed at checking the various corrupt practices in our society. Despite all these commendable effort of our youth are still very much indiscipline. The Nigeria youth is yet to embrace the principles behind the war against indiscipline and corruption programme even when he is supposed to have great roles to play in the success of the programme.

There is often the saying that our youths are the leaders of tomorrow, but from what happens on a daily basis, one is forced to wonder if actually the youths are the future leader of tomorrow, if they could actually be entrusted with the leadership roles of the futures, people from various works of life have expressed concern. Olusegun Obasanjo formal president and head of state of the Federal Republic of Nigeria lamented over the rate of indiscipline in the Nigeria society. He pointed accusing fingers to most youths and adults noting that they suffering from what he called social, moral, political and economic indiscipline. Also formal head of state general Ibrahim Babaginda confirmed the obvious fact that the rate of indiscipline and crime among youths was growing fast. He said.

“Moral decadence is threatening the nation as evidenced by the get rich quick syndrome that pervaded all facts of the society. Crimes of violence in which our young stars are involved in indication of the malaise which affects most of our communities”. (daily Times 26th December, 1985. pp 1). The problems of indiscipline among students is fast becoming a canker worm that is eaten deeper and deeper in to the fabric of our society and thereby constituting a greater threaten to the stability of the nation. Indiscipline of various types has eaten deep into the fabric of the social system, it is a problem that is increasing at a fast rate and needs prompt attention. We have come to notice that hardly any family exists without a child possessing one trait of indiscipline or the other. It is either the child steals, is rude, not well mannered, runs away from classes, and or at time if the child is a female, it may be that she posses indulgent sexual acts which may create great concerns for the parents. It is also possible that the child is one way or the other drug addict. In whatever way it is viewed whether the child exhibits any of these features or many others, which are socially undesirable, such a child is certainly a problem to the family and the society at large.

It is also sad, to note that student’s indiscipline has had a lot of negative effects on the school system and learning, many academic calendar are being disrupted as a result of this indiscipline many students now form themselves into gangs, they threaten the life of fellow students and even teachers. It is as a result of this indiscipline that we now have secreted societies or secrete cults even in our primary and secondary schools. It is necessary for the nation to pay attention to the frequent indiscipline among our students, if she is to achieve fame and progress in all field of human endeavour,. This is because the fate of any nation depends on the youths she breeds, as they are the leaders of tomorrow.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM  

The problem of student’s indiscipline is to be well attended to by parents, teachers/school administrators and all these involved in the upbringing of the students in the country, if lasting solutions are to be found in it. To this end, we all stand to gain in no small measure of students refrain from indiscipline behaviours and become discipline.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY   

This research is aimed at investigating the problem of indiscipline and its impact on academic activity in Edo State. This is due to the ever-increasing rate of indiscipline in these schools nationwide. Some variables of this study include societal influence, parental influence/upbringing and socio-economic attainment of parents. There are many factors usually responsible for indiscipline of students in the society. This work therefore, aimed at determine the factors responsible for indiscipline in our secondary schools. it will try to make suggestions to the possible solutions which may help to being an end to the problem of indiscipline in our secondary schools.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

          To guide this study, the following hypotheses are necessary:

1.  Does the parental influence and upbringing of the child contribute to the indiscipline of t he child?

2.  Does the society at large encourage indiscipline among students through its customs ways of life?

3.  Has the socio-economic attainment of a child’s parent got anything to do with indiscipline of the child?

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY  

It is expected that the result of this study would be useful to parents and the society. School administrators, teachers, government and policy makers in their effort to put an end to the problem of students indiscipline specifically the out-come of this work would assist parents and society in monitoring the activities of their children through the results of this study, school heads, will discover what negative role they play and which in turn affect events that can lead to indiscipline in school. They will then adjust their administrative loopholes and forge ahead for a well-disciplined schools system. Teachers are expected to know from this study how students indiscipline is being carried out around them and employ means of eradicating the trend. The study would also be useful to the government and policy makers in formulating policies that will ensure a disciplined and patriotic behaviour on the part of the students. The overall aim of this study is the complete wiping out of indiscipline among out students so that teaching learning atmosphere will be conducive and free dangers. In such an environment, there will be better enhancement of knowledge.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY   

The research work is limited in scope to secondary schools in Edo State. Due to the large size of the local government areas and problems that may be encountered in the process of covering the local government, the numbers of schools were reduced to five to enhance adequate coverage. These schools were selected randomly from the State.

DEFINITIONS OF TERMS 

Youths: This is the state or time of being young.

Students: A person who is studying at a college or university

Discipline: Training especially of the mind and character, set of rules for conduct method by which training may be given.

Indiscipline: Lack of control in the behaviour of a group of people,. The report identifies the causes of violence and indiscipline in schools.

Juvenile delinquency: A term applied to the criminal behaviour of those who are youthful age, under sixteen. 

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