ABSTRACT
This study investigated the perceive influence of indiscipline on students’ academic performance in public secondary schools in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. Stratified proportionate random sampling techniques was used to determine the sample size. The study collected primary data using a well-structured questionnaire known as “Influence of Indiscipline on Students Academic Performance in Public Secondary Schools Questionnaire (IISAPPSSQ)”, which was issued to three hundred and forty-five (345) respondents, consisting of fifty (50) teachers and two hundred and ninety-five students. However, a total of three hundred and twenty questionnaires were retrieved from the respondents. The duly completed and retrieved questionnaires comprises of forty-five (45) teachers and two hundred and seventy-five (275) students. Descriptive statistics measures such as mean and standard deviation values were used to assess the responds of the respondents regarding the research questions. Independent samples t-test was used to test the hypotheses. The analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. The study revealed that bullying by the students, students stealing others students’ belongings, acts of disobedience, truancy, acts of lawlessness and examination malpractices are the major acts of indiscipline in public secondary school in Ikwuano Local Government Area. Secondly, the study indicated that the acts of indiscipline are occasioned by nonchalant attitude of teachers towards students’ indiscipline, anti-social behaviours of the students, unsatisfied desires of the students, indiscriminate punishment of student by teachers and senior students, peer group pressure, inadequate motivation for disciplined actions, and poor moral family up-bringing of students. The Inferential statistics revealed that there is no significant difference in the mean ratings of teachers and students on the type of students’ indiscipline in public secondary schools in Ikwuano Local Government Area. Lastly, there is a significant difference in the mean ratings of teachers and students on the effects of indiscipline on students’ academic performance in public secondary schools in Ikwuano L.G.A. The study recommended among other things that the Government through the Ministry of Education should enforce policies in schools to identify, apprehend and apply appropriate punishment on students discovered to be involved in stealing in schools. Moreover, government at all levels, parents, teachers, students and stakeholders should work towards the total eradication of examination malpractice to restore discipline and enhance dignity and integrity of education system.
TABLE
OF CONTENT
Title page i
Declaration ii
Dedication iii
Certification iv
Acknowledgement v
Table of Content vi
List of tables viii
Abstract ix
CHAPTER
1 : INTRODUCTION
1.1
Background to the 1
1.2
Statement of the Problem 8
1.3
Purpose of the Study 9
1.4 Research Questions 9
1.5 Hypotheses 10
1.6
Significance of the Study 10
1.7
Scope of the Study 12
CHAPTER 2: REVIEW
OF RELATED LITERATURE
2.1. Conceptual Framework 13
2.1.1 Concept of Indiscipline 13
2.1.2 Types of Indiscipline 14
2.1.3 Causes of Indiscipline 16
2.1.3.1- Family Background 16
2.1.3.2 Teachers
Attitude 17
2.1.3.3
Environmental influence 17
2.1.3.4 Societal
Demands 18
2.1.3.5 Peer
Pressure 19
2.1.3.6 School
Management and Administration 20
2.1.3.7 Students 21
2.1.4 Effects of indiscipline on students’ academic
performance 22
2.1.5 Strategies to control indiscipline in public
secondary schools 23
2.2
Theoretical Framework 25
2.2.1 The Social Learning Theory of Albert Bandura (1974) 25
2.2.2 Social
Control Theory of Hirschi (1969) 26
2.2.3
Pickle Jar Theory of Wright (2002) 28
2.3 Review
of Empirical Studies 29
2.4
Summary of Literature Reviewed 32
CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY
3.1
Design of the Study 34
3.2. Area
of the Study 34
3.3
Population of the Study 35
3.4
Sample and Sampling Techniques 36
3.5 Instrument
for Data Collection 36
3.6 Validation of the Instrument 37
3.7 Reliability of the Instrument 37
3.8 Method
of Data Collection 37
3.9 Method
of Data Analysis 37
CHAPTER 4: RESULT
AND PRESENTATION
4.1 Questionnaire
Administration and Retrieval 38
4.2.1
Descriptive Analysis of
Research Questions 39
4.3 Inferential
Statistics and Hypotheses Testing 43
4.4 Discussion
of Findings 46
CHAPTER
5: SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary 49
5.2 Conclusion 52
5.3 Recommendations 51
References 52
Appendixes 55
LIST
OF TABLES
Table 4.1 Questionnaire Distribution and Collection 38
Table 4.2: Types of Students Indiscipline 39
Table 4.3: Causes of Students Indiscipline 40
Table 4.4: Effect of Indiscipline on Students’ Academic Performance 41
Table 4.5: Strategies for Controlling Students’ Indiscipline 42
Table
4.6 Group Statistics of Independent
t-test for Hypothesis One 43
Table
4.7: Independent Sample t-test for Hypothesis One 44
Table
4.8 Group Statistics of Independent
t-test for Hypothesis Two 45
Table 4.9 Independent Sample t-test for Hypothesis Two 45
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background
to the study
Indiscipline is the greatest problem of the society especially
among our youths. It could be said to be as old as the time when men started to
organize themselves into societies and as a result made laws to direct the
affairs of men in a social set up.
Indiscipline is a phenomenon with multiple facet regarding how
it shows and what causes it as well as the meanings and its functions in the
social, psychosocial and pedagogical fields. Regarding how it displays, Stevart
(2009) believed that the cardinal situations are wrapped in what is regarded as
the first level of indiscipline of which are those activities of disruptive
nature whose disturbance affects the good functioning of classroom. In the
second and third levels are conflicts among peers and conflicts within teacher
- student relationship which could take proportions of violence and even
delinquency.
Indiscipline is the act of lawlessness and disorder or going
against societal norms. This was authenticated by Iburun (2003) who explains
that indiscipline could be regarded as a situation whereby individuals do not
conform to the set boundaries especially in institutions like a school.
Behaviour which conflicts with desirable learning can be referred to as
indiscipline or unwanted behaviour. Indiscipline has been a common feature of
school life with its causes embedded in the social, cultural, historical and
economic contexts of the time. Instances of indiscipline could assume many
forms such as lying, stealing, playing truancy and running away from home. Ekpo
in Ibiam (2015) gave the types of indiscipline cases as use of obscene
language, skipping classes, missing of class regularly, stealing other peoples'
property, beating others in school, causing strikes and unrest and drinking
alcohol in school and at home.
Other indiscipline problems in secondary schools include all
forms of disrespect, unruly behaviors, shouting/noisemaking, rudeness,
laziness, insolence, grumbling and bullying. According to Yaroson (2004) the
challenges of indiscipline passes through all areas of the life of man and this
has brought untold discomfort to man. Presently, it is observable that people
engaged behaviours that shows indiscipline on daily basis.
Today, many students, especially those in secondary schools show
various forms of indiscipline as juvenile delinquency. This has manifested in
the form of arson, murder and robbery and others. These activities involve both
adults and youths and tend to be on the increase in this era of technological
advancement.
This general increase in the young stars' negative attitude to
constituted authority does not have an exception in Africa. On the increase is
this rate of indiscipline despite the various measures successive government
has taken by successive especially in Nigeria to curb the ravaging menace among
our students to bring about a society that is socially stable. There are various forms of indiscipline among
secondary school students including truancy, lateness to school, cultism, drug
abuse, insulting/assaulting, stealing, rioting among other antisocial vices
especially in secondary schools as identified by Zubaida (2009). A secondary
school provides secondary education, between the ages of 11 and 16 or 11 and
18, after primary school and before higher education.
In Nigeria secondary education is divided into two parts: the
junior and senior secondary education (Ngerem, 2016). The objectives of
secondary education include to prepare students to make positive contributions
to the development of society, and to acquire attitudes of national patriotism,
self -respect, and cooperation, adaptability and a sense of purpose and self -
discipline (Nwaoku, 2005).
Secondary education is a very important level of education all
over the world and no meaningful development can be attained in any sector of a
nation's existence without secondary education. It is the gate-way to tertiary
education and is essentially providing greater number of lower level manpower
needed for proper economic growth and national development. Hence Abraham (2000)
describes it as the level of education between primary and tertiary education
where the high level manpower produced at the tertiary level is prepared.
Therefore, if this important level of education is left to decay or deteriorate
due to indiscipline, it may hinder the actualization of secondary school goals
(to prepare individual for useful living and higher education (Federal Republic
of Nigeria (FRN), 2014).
A number of these acts of indiscipline were directed against
constituted authorities and established rules. Examples of indiscipline are
refusal to wear the right school uniforms and going out of bounds without
permission (Zubaida, 2009). It is observable that respects which teachers
command among students had been seriously worn-off. And some teachers have not
done much to help the situation by their actions which have resulted to a
national issue. It is therefore important at this juncture to provide
therapeutic measures to students' involvement in armed robbery, rape, cultism,
examination malpractices and fraud including many other unruly behaviors which
makes headlines in the media.
Other crimes may not be so widely reported yet they occur at
higher frequencies in schools., several measures were put in place to curtail
this trend, during the military rule. On its assumption of office on the 31st
December 1983, the government of general Mohammuadu Buhari (Rtd) declared that
one of the causes of the problems in Nigeria was indiscipline and as such, he
introduced the war against indiscipline (WAI) into all aspects of the life of
the nation.
Also our Former-Head of state, late General Sani Abacha (Lt) on
assumption of office (1993) launched the War against Indiscipline and
Corruption (WAIC), former President Olusegun Obasanjo also launched Independent
Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) on 29th September, 2000 and Economic
Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) in 2003. The most recent measure to control
and curb corruption which is part of indiscipline is whistle- blowing.
Whistle- blowing according to Onyegbulam (2017) is a discipline
policy launched on 21st December, 2016 by the Federal government of Nigeria and
facilitated through the federal ministry of finance. Onegbulam, explained that
whistle- blowing encourages Nigerians to report corruption-related offences and
a 2.5% -5% of the recovered amount of the ill-gotten money will be given to the
person who reported such cases. These
were aimed at checking the various corrupt practices in our society.
Notwithstanding all these commendable efforts of government the youth are still
very much undisciplined. The Nigeria youths are yet to come to terms with the
principles behind the war against indiscipline and corruption programme even
when they are supposed to have great roles to play if the programme is to
succeed.
Our past and present leaders were youths before they grew and
became presidents of this nation “Nigeria” and their laws and anti-corruption
programmes did not or is not having any effect on the nation Nigeria because or
probably they were corrupt as youths. Sincethe present add ministration came in
to power on 29th May, 2015 a lot of indiscipline act and crime have been going
on for example; the incident of the latest cash haul found in an empty
apartment in Ikoyi high bungalow at Lagos neighborhood which turned up in
bundles of cash in Dollar, Pound Sterling and Naira currencies totaling #43.4
million at current Central Bank of Nigeria rates was discovery through
whistle-blowing (kazem, 2017).
Still other forms of indiscipline and corrupt practices rear
their ugly heads in Nigeria unchecked. Olusegun Obasanjo former President and
Head of state of the Federal Republic of Nigeria lamented over rates of
indiscipline in the Nigeria society pointing fingers to many youths and adults,
noting that they are going through what he described as social, moral,
political and economic indiscipline.
General Ibrahim Babaginda, former head of state, (Onyegbulam,
2017) confirmed the fact that the rate of indiscipline and crime among youths
was growing fast, and that the nation is threatened by moral decadence as
evidenced by the get rich quick syndrome that have taken over all areas of the
society. Crimes of violence in which our young stars are involved in are
indication of the malaise which affects most of our communities (Onyegbulam,
2017).
The problem of indiscipline among students is fast becoming a
canker worm that is eating deeper and deeper into the fabric of our society and
thereby constituting a greater threat to the stability of the nation. It is
important to note that the future of any nation depends on the youths who
constitute the potential human resources needed for the continuity of the
society.
Thus, to achieve sustainable development in a society, the youth
population must not only be preserved but also learn disciplined. Indiscipline
in schools has been an issue of concern over time for educators, policy makers
and public opinion in general, this is owing to the outbreak of aggressiveness
among peers, violence within teacher - student relationship and vandalism as
well, leading to problem associated with drop out, deviant behaviors,
examination malpractice and fraud, lateness and poor academic performance among
the students. With all these, discipline is deserved in schools to checkmate
acts of indiscipline occasioned by students' misconducts involving violent and
criminal acts. If allowed to incubate under current favourable conditions by
education providers and consumers, acts of indiscipline could hatch a monster that
will be difficult to exterminate (Onyegbulam, 2017).
Irrespective of gender and school type, indiscipline affects all
schools though the magnitude and degree may vary from one school to another. It
brings about all forms of anti-social behaviors which often come in the form of
sexual assault, rioting, stealing and lying, cheating and examination
malpractice, drug abuse, secret cults and all deviant activities, aggressive in
societal reconstruction and often violently, in order to try and change the societal
norms including violence and terrorism. Students' academic performances are
very which leads to dropouts causing nuisance in the society (Aneje, 2019).
Cases of violence which is however less common, occur more often outside the
school premises. In the opinion of Idu & Ojedapo (2011), if the teachers
are frustrated and lack motivation in them, they are not likely to motivate
others to learn or occupy their time in productive education. Continuing,
Ojedapo said that Government contributes to indiscipline by not providing
adequate facilities/equipment in the school.
Community/Society influence also contributes to the rate of
indiscipline among secondary school students which could be due to economic
recession. Also peer-group influence contributes to indiscipline among students
in the form of uncomfortable environment where the students are scared of their
parents. Therefore the following persons are to attend to the problem of
student's indiscipline: parents, teachers/school administrators and all those 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 if
students refrain from indisciplinary behaviours. The measures taken to deal
with indiscipline such as WAIC, ICPC, EFCC and Whistle blowing as enforced by
the government are adequate to control and stop indiscipline but given the fact
that there exist no administrative or legal guidelines which could be referred
to in various cases of indiscipline. Actions taken are often ad-hoc and
uncoordinated both within and across schools. Teachers most prominently feel
disempowered to deal with cases of indiscipline because of lack of support from
relevant authorities, political interference and an incapacitated school
administration especially in secondary schools.
Secondary education in Nigeria therefore is aimed at preparing
the individual for useful living within the society and preparation for higher
education and for the individual to be able to live a useful life in his
society (Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2014). In the opinion of Asiya (2012),
education is a critical tool for the transformation of the individual and
society, hence the need for this study to find out the influence of
indiscipline on students' academic performance in public secondary schools in
Ikwuano local government of Abia state.
1.2
Statement of the Problem
It is also expected that discipline should be the order of the
day for students to undergo their studies under favorable environment for good
performance in examinations and reliable human beings in the society after
graduation. The various policies made by the government of Nigeria in the
establishment of agencies such as WAIC, ICPC, EFCC, and Whistle-blowing to
check and enforce discipline are enough to make discipline the order of the day
in various organizations in the country including secondary schools, where
social studies and Civic education have been made compulsory in the curriculum.
The current condition of affairs in secondary schools seems to
show that indiscipline has taken over the lives of students in especially in
Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia state. It is observable that this has
caused a lot of problems including poor performance of students both in
internal and external examinations. This may be the fact that some of the
measures mentioned above to control indiscipline have been forgotten as a
result of time, and for the fact that most of the discipline measures are more
of theory than practical, indiscipline continues to abound in the various
organizations in Nigeria including secondary schools.
Again, it appears that these strategies or measures are not
being implemented effectively which has given rise to these observables
problems of indiscipline in the country. This has necessitated the study. If
discipline is enforced on students through the help of parents, government,
teachers, peer groups and administrators by enforcing discipline and providing
the necessary things required for students' education, there will be
disciplined environment and students will be disciplined. This will make the
students to concentrate on their studies and perform well in the various
examinations required of them. Most secondary school students are at this stage
which is a volatile stage of human development and this may cause indiscipline
(Cheptile, 2011). This has informed the researcher to examine the influence of
indiscipline on students' academic performance in public secondary schools. The
study put in a question form as 'how does indiscipline influence students'
academic performance in public secondary schools in Ikwuano local government
area of Abia state.
1.3 Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this research
is to examine the influence of indiscipline on students' academic performance
in our secondary school system. This is
due to the ever-increasing rate of indiscipline in the schools nationwide. This
study specifically sought to:
1. identify the type of indiscipline in public secondary schools.
2. find out the causes of indiscipline in public secondary schools.
3. examine the effects of indiscipline on student's academic
performance in public secondary schools.
4.
identify
strategies for controlling indiscipline in public secondary schools in in
Ikwuano LGA of Abia state.
1.4 Research
Questions
The following research questions were posed to guide the study
according to its purpose.
1.
What are
the types of indiscipline in public secondary schools in Ikwuano LGA?
2.
What are
the causes of indiscipline in public secondary schools Ikwuano LGA?
3.
What are
the effects of indiscipline on students' academic performance in public
secondary schools Ikwuano LGA?
4.
What are
the strategies for controlling students' indiscipline in public secondary
schools Ikwuano LGA?
1.5 Hypotheses
The following null
hypotheses are formulated to be tested at 0.05 level of significance.
HO1: There is no significant
difference between the mean ratings of teachers and students on the type of students'
indiscipline in public secondary schools in Ikwuano LGA.
HO2: There is no significant
difference between the mean ratings of teachers and students on the effects of
indiscipline on students' academic performance in public secondary schools in
Ikwuano L.G.A
1.6 Significance
of the Study
It is expected that the result of this study if published will
be of immense beneficial to school administrators, teachers, government and
policy makers, parents, students and the society at large.
To the school administrators, the findings of this study will
reveal the roles that may have affected the management of the school which have
lead to indiscipline in school and then looked at the ways to administer their
duties to avoid things that will raise act of indiscipline as it affects the
system.
The schools administrators will benefit from this study because
it will also help them to handle indiscipline in their various schools, change
their administrative strategies that stir up indiscipline to promote the image
of the school. The teachers will also benefit from this study because the
findings will help the teachers to find out how they contribute to students'
indiscipline and amend their attitudes. It will also be useful to them because
they will know how to control and deal with students for conducive classroom
environment for teaching and training.
Teachers are expected to
know from this study how student's indiscipline is being carried out around
them and employ means of eradicating the trend. It will help them to be
concerned with students' behavior and put away lazier fair attitude towards the
behavior of students.
The findings of this study will be significant to the government
who should provide adequate facilities required by the schools in order to
reduce indiscipline acts of the students. They will also employ security and
discipline agents who will help school administrators to enforce indiscipline
in secondary schools. Such may help in providing conducive environment for
teaching and learning.
The policy makers will also benefit from the findings of this
study because they will adjust some of the policies and provide discipline
measures that must be observed to reduce indiscipline in secondary schools.
These indiscipline acts of students lead to non-implementation of policies
thereby causing wastage to the country.
Findings of this study will be significant to student themselves
who will find out indiscipline in schools do not help them at all academically
and try to avoid them. This will help them to graduate as at when due and avoid
being dropouts who cause nuisance in the communities. It will also gives them
the power and inner strength to overcome addictions
Parents will benefit
from the findings of this study by avoiding their own attitudes that cause
indiscipline and get maximum benefit of the money spent on their children and
wards. They will also know that it is good for them to instill discipline in
their children and wards from the home. Charity beginnings at home. It will
encourage consistent daily action towards the upbringing of their children and
wards.
The society at large will benefit from this study because there
will be peaceful atmosphere, unemployment will reduce, delinquencies will cease
and robbery and cohesion will come to stop. In such an environment, there will
be better enhancement of knowledge. It will be ital to overcoming negative
habits in the society
1.7 Scope
of the Study
This research is
delimited to the percieved influence of indiscipline on students' academic
performance in public secondary schools in Ikwuano Local Government Area (LGA)
of Abia State.
The content scope of this work include types of indiscipline,
causes of indiscipline (family background, and teachers' attitude,
environmental influence, societal demands, peer pressure, school management and
administration and the students), percieved influence of indiscipline on
students' academic performance and strategies to control indiscipline in public
secondary schools in Ikwuano LGA, Abia state.
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