CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of Study
One
of the most pressing problems the classroom teacher faces is indiscipline.
Indiscipline is the act of been disobedient to the rules and regulation of a
school, community, family, or nation.
Indiscipline
has become so rampant that the president of Federal republic of Nigeria, Doctor
Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, declared it to be a matter of national emergency in
2012. The formal president of Federal republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun
Obsanjo, declared it to also be a matter of national emergency in 2001.
One
of the objectives of the national policy on education (2004) is “the
inculcation of the right types of values and attitudes for the survival of the
individual and the Nigeria society”. Inspite of the awareness, it appears that
school authorities are losing the battle to combat indiscipline in the schools.
The manifestation of indiscipline in the school system and absence of carry
over values of discipline either at the higher level of education or public
life in general is the indication that the war against indiscipline at the
school level is far from being won.
The
world “discipline” like many other abstract psychological and sociological
terms lack precise and universal meaning. There is no consensus of opinion as
to what discipline is and what actually constitute discipline. According to
Dictionary of Psychology (2009) the term discipline is the control of conduct
either by an external authority or by the individual. In Educational system
indiscipline of students leads to poor performances, examination malpractice
corruption, and robbery. These acts make students to fail their examination
such as WAEC, SSCE, NECO and also
causes havoc in the society and nation at large.
Pat
(1968) define indiscipline as disobeying or going contrary to rules and
regulations guiding a given organization, there by causing problems and
suffering to people within the organization. Adesina (1980) define discipline
as readiness or ability to respect authority and observe conventional or
establishes laws of the society or any other organization. It implies self
control, self restraint, respect for self and others; it also calls for
sacrifice, perseverance, tolerance and recognition of human dignity.
Most
schools have a code of regulation which consist of the rules and regulation
governing the pupils and students at the beginning of the school year. Teachers
are to look out for those who break any of the specified rules. The types of
control techniques used in punishing any pupil or student that disobey the
rules and regulations are standing up, kneeling down, closing of eyes, hands
up, uprooting grass, suspension, flogging with cane.
School
authorities believe that through the rules and punishment techniques they can
maintain order and discipline in schools. It has been discovered that the
teacher’s disciplinary measures have been largely unsuccessful in curbing
indiscipline in schools.
Most
schools in Tafa Local Government are located beside market, cinema houses,
hotel, where social vices are displayed.
Students
emulate them and display this behaviour in the schools which is seriously
affecting their academic performance. No meaningful success in term of school
purpose and goal can be achieved in a disorderly atmosphere.
1.2 Statement
of Problems
It
has been observed that the problem of indiscipline is very rampant among
secondary school students. Therefore, the researcher has deliberately chosen
the effect of indiscipline on academic performance of students in Tafa Local
Government Area Lagos State as an area of investigation focusing attention on
Tafa Local Government Secondary Schools.
In this study, attempt was made to
Provide answers to the following questions.
a) How does the school environment
contribute to disciplinary problems of
the students?
b) How do parents themselves contribute to
disciplinary problems?
c) Do students themselves share any portion
of the blame for their misconduct?
d) How does the society contribute to
indiscipline among children?
1.3 Purpose
of the Study
The
problems of indiscipline in Tafa Local Government Secondary schools are complex
and multi stated. Hence the purpose of this study is to:
1) Identify the major factors causing
indiscipline among secondary schools in Tafa Local Government
2) Highlight the acts of indiscipline among
Tafa Local Government secondary schools children.
3) Suggest ways by which some of these
problems could be solved.
1.4 Research Question
I. What
are the factors that cause indiscipline among secondary school student?
II. What
are the acts that constitute indiscipline among secondary school students in
Tafa Local Government Area?
III. What
are the methods used in combating the problem of indiscipline in secondary school
students?
1.5 Significant of the Study.
This study will help the researchers
as well as other people to unravel the effect of indiscipline on academic
performance among secondary school students.
It is hoped that the result of this
study will be useful to the following:
1. To
School Administrators: The finding of this study, will show the various
effects of indiscipline and state the ways of curbing it which will serve as a
vital instrument for effective school administration.
2. To
Parents: The recommendation of this study will equally give parents an
insight into effect of indiscipline on their children and at the same time,
they will learn effective ways of bringing up a child.
3. The findings and recommendation of the
study will also be of immense value to Graduate and undergraduate students who
are studying administration in the field of education as it will give them an
insight on how to handle indiscipline among students.
1.5 Scope
and Limitation of the Study
This research is designed to cover
secondary schools within Tafa Local Government. The sample is limited to five
secondary schools one boy, one girl and three mixed schools.