ABSTRACT
This study investigated the problems of indiscipline on the
academic performance of secondary school students in Kosofe local government
area of Lagos state. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. 196 secondary school students
formed the sample while simple random sampling technique was used to select
secondary school students from four Senior Secondary schools in Kosofe Local
Government in Lagos State. Thirty Senior Secondary school students were
randomly sampled from each school. A
self-developed questionnaire of 21 items was used to collect information from
the students after its validity was determined. Four hypotheses were tested in
the study while Inferential Statistics of Pearson product moment correlation
statistical tool was used for hypothesis testing at 0.05 levels of significance.
The study revealed the following
results: there
is no significant influence of truancy on students’ academic performance, there is no significant influence of cheating
in examinations on students’ academic performance, there is no significant
influence of alcohol and substance abuse on students’ academic performance,
there is no significant influence of sexual related problems on academic
performance and there is a significant gender difference on students’ academic
performance. It
is recommended that; parents
should be watchful of the types of friends kept by their adolescent children.
The parent-child relationship should be cordial enough to permit adolescents to
discuss their problems with their parents. The management of adolescents
(secondary school students) should be the joint responsibility of parents,
teachers, school administrators and the society at large. School
counsellors should also provide usable and adequate information both to the
students and their parents about forms of indiscipline in secondary schools and consequent
punishment associated to each.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Pages
Title
i
Certification
ii
Dedication
iii
Acknowledgements iv
Abstract
v
Table
of Contents
vi
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study 1
1.2 Statement of the Problem 10
1.3 Purpose of the Study 11
1.4 Research Questions 12
1.5 Research Hypotheses 12
1.6 Significance of the study 13
1.7 Delimitation of the study 13
1.8 Limitation of the study 13
1.9 Operational Definition of Terms 14
CHAPTER
TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Concept of Indiscipline 15
2.2 Concept of Academic Performance 24
2.3 Concept of Truancy 25
2.4 Effects of Truancy on Student’s Academic
Performance 27
2.5 Concept of Cheating 34
2.6 Cheating
and Academic Performance 39
CHAPTER
THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3.1 Research Design 41
3.2 Population of the Study 41
3.3 Sample Size and Sampling Techniques 42
3.4 Research Instrument 42
3.5 Validity of Instrument 43
3.6 Administration of Instrument 43
3.7 Data Analysis 43
3.8 Procedure for Data Analysis 34
CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
4.0 Introduction 44
4.1 Descriptive Analysis of Demographic Data 44
4.2 Testing of Hypotheses 45
4.3 Discussion 49
CHAPTER
FIVE: DISCUSSION, SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSSION, RECOMMENDATION OF RESULTS
5.1 Summary 55
5.2 Conclusions 56
5.3 Recommendations 57
5.4 Suggestions for Further Studies 57
References 59
Appendix 67
CHAPTER
ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background to the study
The children of today are the leaders of
tomorrow and children are always described as the pride and wealth of any
nation. Due to these reasons, the future of any nation depends largely on the
young ones who constitute the human and potential resources needed for the
continued existence of the society. In order for any nation to achieve a
sustainable development, the younger population must not only be preserved but
also be disciplined. Over the last decade there has been an increasing concern
among educators in Nigeria regarding students’ indiscipline and disrespect to
school authorities. This Indiscipline has been over time an issue of concern
for educators, Policy makers, public opinion and the society in general.
Research consistently documents that school
indiscipline reduces teaching hours as more time is devoted to managing
student’s misbehaviors rather than on teaching. School Indiscipline owing to
outbreak of aggressiveness among peers, violence within teachers to student’s
relationship and vandalism, truancy
bullying, alcohol and substance abuse, inability and unwillingness to do
assigned class work or homework, refusal to take given orders, teasing of other
learners, disrespecting educators, swearing at educators or other learners,
carrying dangerous weapons to school, threatening other learners with dangerous weapons, assaulting other
learners, thus leading to perpetual
existence of problem of drop outs, deviant behaviours, examination
malpractices, lateness and above all poor academic performance among students.
Idu and Ojedapo (2011) and Tunor (2011).
Discipline is probably one of the most
difficult and unpleasant part of teaching profession because the teacher is
faced with the challenges of educating, socializing, empowering and certifying
students, but this is only possible with the help of good teaching atmosphere
(Fafunwa, 2009; Farrant, 2004).
Indiscipline is a multifaceted phenomenon
regarding its did plays and causes as well as its meanings and functions in the
social, psychological and pedagogical fields. The problem of indiscipline
permeates all facets of the life of man and has brought man down to the knees.
According to the Bible (Christian’s holy book) it was the sin of Disobedience
that sent the first man and woman Adam and Eve out of the Garden of Eden. The
sin of disobedience is actually a case of indiscipline to laid down rules and
regulations by the constituted authority (God) in which he instructed them not
to do something, which they later did and had to face the consequences.
School indiscipline according to Gaustard
(2005) has two main objectives. The first is to ensure the safety of staff and
students while the second is to create an environment conducive for learning.
Acts of indiscipline occasioned by students’ misconduct involving violent and
criminal behavior defeats the goals of education.
Acts of indiscipline if allowed to
incubate under current favourable conditions by education providers and
consumers could hatch a monster that will be difficult to exterminate. Idu and
Ojedapo (2011) and Tunor (2011). Minor samples of the envisioned problems are
being encountered in the nation’s economic front. Many indeed believe that the current economic
woes arising from corruption, robbery, assassination, kidnapping, smuggling and
pipeline vandalisation are progenies of school indiscipline. Court injunctions
and orders are indiscriminately flouted not only by those who make or interpret
the law, but also by those who took the oath to defend the laws of the land.
These acts of indiscipline in our national life most likely began as a mustard
seed of disobedience in the school.
School indiscipline is a very important
and crucial issue hindering the normal development of youths in the society
especially students in post primary schools. Indiscipline as it concerns
achievement of educational goals has received a lot of attention. According to
Edem (1982), Indiscipline as the violation of school rules and regulations
which is capable of obstructing the smooth and orderly functioning of the
school system should be consequently avoided through perfect orientation of
students and imposition of positive sanctions in the case of obvious violation
of order.
Indiscipline is the ability of students to
respect authority, observe and obey school rules and regulations which in turn
affect their academic performance. When a student misses or skips classes continuously
no doubt that will lead to poor performance in his academics. Same goes for
truancy, absteenism, late coming to mention a few.
The purpose of this study is to explore
the Problems of indiscipline and its influence on the Academic Performance of
Senior Secondary Schools in Lagos State.
The problem of indiscipline affects all
schools irrespective of gender and school type though the degree and magnitude
vary from school to school. Cases of violence though common, occur more often
outside than on the school premises. The measures taken to deal with
indiscipline are barely adequate given the fact that there exist no
administrative or legal guidelines which one could refer to in the case such
issues or situation arises. Actions taken are often ad-hoc and uncoordinated
both within and across schools of the same type. Teachers most predominately
feel disempowered to deal with cases of indiscipline because of lack of support
from relevant authorities, political interference and incapacitated school
administration.
In this study, we would be looking at the
term discipline, Indiscipline and its influence on academic performance. Discipline globally views could be termed to
mean training that enables an individual to develop an orderly conduct and self
–control as well as self direction Egwunyenga (2000). Therefore Discipline
defines the limitations of an individual or group of people. It is the practice
of restraint, which may be self- imposed. Relating it to our schools, Adeshina
(1980) described it as a situation whereby students are taught to respect the
school authorities, to observe the school laws and regulations and to maintain
established standard of behavior. In other words, respect for self and others.
Boakye (2006) defines discipline as the
obedience of rules and orders and a manifestation of an outward mark of respect
in accordance with standing agreements. School discipline is an essential
element in school administration. This is because discipline is a mode of life
in accordance with laid down rules of the society to which all members must conform and the violation of which are
questionable . Indiscipline is seen as a process of training and learning that
fosters growth and development. Imaguezor (1997). The aim of discipline is
therefore to help the individual to be well adjusted, happy and useful in
school and also in the society. The doctrine of school discipline according to
Nolte (1980) and Barrell (1978) is based on the concept of “loco parentis”
which allows school authority full responsibility for children’s upbringing,
the right of discipline and control. In other words, teachers have the right to
punish students who contravene school rules/laws. This discipline refers to a systematic instruction
given to a student. To discipline means to instruct a person to follow a
particular code of conduct. According to Adesina (1990), discipline is the
readiness or ability to respect authority and observe conventional or
established laws of the society or of any other organization. Discipline
implies self-control, restraint, and respect for oneself and others. In a
nutshell, school discipline refers to regulation of children and maintenance of
school rules or order. These rules may for example define the expected
standards of clothing (school uniform), timekeeping, social behavior among
classmates and general school ethics. Discipline therefore calls for sacrifice,
perseverance, and tolerance in our schools in order to achieve academic
excellence.
Indiscipline, on the other hand, is
misbehaviour in any or all of the following areas: respect for school
authority, obedience of rules, laws and regulation and maintenance of
established standards of behaviour.
Adesina (1990), also argues that
discipline is coined from a Latin word “Discipulus” meaning to learn. It
therefore calls for the submission of one's impulses and powers to a
regulation, which prevents chaos and brings efficiency without which there
would otherwise be ineffectiveness and waste.
Indiscipline, on the other hand, is a
breach of social order, good moral, behaviour, self-accepted and
self-maintained social values of life.
Furthermore, indiscipline can be said to
be problem facing the effectiveness of work in the public and private secondary
schools today. This has led to nepotism, hooliganism, absenteeism, truancy,
unwanted destruction of properties, cheating and examination mal-practice in
the society.
Indiscipline can be said to be the absence
of discipline. Therefore, anywhere indiscipline reigns, discipline is absent.
The stability and continued existence of that society is in question because
where discipline is not instilled, life and property become insecure and the
continued existence of that society become precarious.
Edem (1982), states that indiscipline as a
violation of school rules and regulations is capable of obstructing the smooth
and orderly functioning of schools system and should be consequently avoided
through perfect orientation of students and imposition of positive sanction
incase of obvious violation of the order.
Dittiniya (1996), states that indiscipline
could be regarded as any act that does not conform to societal values and
norms. Indiscipline could take up many forms and shapes depending on how it is
being carried out in its assorted forms. Indiscipline is also a distinctive and
undeserving element to progress, training and mode of life in accordance with
rules. Consequently, lack of discipline relates to misbehavior in any form.
Indiscipline in this situation is any act that is inconsistent with the set
down rules and regulations governing a learning situation.
It is important to state that indiscipline
in our secondary schools is one of the major problems facing our society today.
Indiscipline according to (Timothy, 2008: 110) is the direct opposite of
discipline i.e. lack of discipline. He further quoted Dittinuiya (1995) who
defined it as any act that does not conform to the societal value and norms.
However, indiscipline is as old creation
itself. That was what accounted for the ejection of the first male and female
(Adam and Eve) from the garden of Eden, out of disobedience and extreme
curiosity to be like their creator, they tasted the forbidden fruit and faced
the consequences. Furthermore, for some time now, indiscipline in our school
has attracted the attention of the media and the general public. Schools which
are fundamentally expected to assist in building up people for good of the
society are now regarded as by some as the breeding ground for indiscipline.
On the whole, these authors agree on one
common thing about discipline and indiscipline. That is, whereas discipline
means obedience to authority, respect for self and others, indiscipline means
the opposite (i.e. disobedience to authority, lack of respect for self and
others). This common view is undisputable because it underscores the fact that
discipline is an indispensable aspect of school effectiveness. In this study
indiscipline is conceptualized as behaviour from a student that breaches rules
and regulations and undermines school effectiveness. Academic Performance is
what you have shown you can do in a certain subject(s). Ability is what you can
do given an ideal circumstance. You can think of it as being internal until you
show what you can do with your performance. Performance is external and what
people can see. For instance, someone freaks out when they have to take a test
and is uncoordinated; this will or may lead to poor performance in that test.
If that same person takes that same test without being nervous, he would have
performed better.
There is much indiscipline in schools.
There is also various school offence or indiscipline today and the major ones
are listed below. E.g. assault and insult, drug abuse, charms, truancy,
fighting, mass demonstration, dishonesty, wickedness, drug trafficking, keeping
firearms, sexual harassment, rape, Robbery, in-decency etc.
1.
Assault and insult: Student or youth speak
rudely to their teachers and also fight with members of staff as well as
members of non-teaching staff and beat up their younger ones.
2.
Drug abuse: This is the habit of taking in
destructive substances. They arch the habit of keeping and using drug for
regular diseases, which are not prescribed by qualified doctors. They also
indulge in drinking and smoking.
3.
Charms: worse still act or things are supposed
to have magic power to help or harm people. A lot of students use charms to
pass their examination as to win the favour of the teacher and also to cause
harm to fellow students and teacher who are against them.
4.
Truancy: This is the act of habit staying
away from school without permission. Most of the students leave their home
every morning but do not get to school.
5.
Fighting: Indiscipline arises from
fighting. It brings about physical defeat of students in secondary school.
6.
Mass demonstration: They engaged in
demonstration or strikes over the quality of food, poor staffing.
7.
Dishonesty: Lying cheating and stealing
are dishonest acts of Behaviour. Some of them are guilty of fighting and
cheating at examination.
8.
Wickedness: They oppress the junior
students and carryout the destructive of the school property. They engage in
strikes and mass demonstration.
Statement of the Problem
There has been continued decline in the
academic performance of students in our secondary schools and these are
triggered by the escalation in the number of students who fail or perform
woefully in continuous assessment test and promotional examination. This
problems also surface in external examinations. That is the performance of
students who write the Junior Secondary Certificate examinations (JSCE) and the
Senior Secondary Examinations (SSCE), most of the students do not pass the
mathematics and English language which is a compulsory prerequisite to be able
to gain admission into any higher Institution.
Due to these problems, most of the
students have had to repeat a class and as in the case of the external
examinations, they have to seat at home to wait for another year in order to
re-sit for another examination. It is also a concern because the external
examinations fees have to be paid again before such the student can be allowed
to sit for the exams. Many parents would actually search for jobs for their
wards but in our society where even the graduates are still unemployed, what
would become of their fate. When nothing seems to be coming forth in terms of
employment, these children will have no other choice but to remain at home
hoping that and believing that they
might be called up for a job some day. Remember the adage that says an “An idle
hand is the devils workshop”. It’s always during the time of waiting that they
join bad gangs, engage in the abuse of drugs, drinking alcohol, partying, night
crawling, even some others are used by evil politicians to realize their
ambition of rigging and ballot box snatching by giving them cash in exchange
for arms and ammunition to the detriment of their soul, thereby jeopardizing
their future. Some others join armed robbery gangs, engage in prostitution and
if they caught in the any of this dastardly act. They would be arrested and
charged to court. If they convicted and found guilty, they risk the chance of
going to jail.
This issue has become a source of concern
even to school administrators, parents, guardians, teachers, principals,
district board of education, ministry of education, students themselves,
stakeholders and the society in general. Therefore, this study sets to
investigate the problems of indiscipline on the academic performance of
secondary school students in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State. There
is no doubt that teachers, parents, guardians, peer groups and the society
itself have both individual and collective roles.
Purpose
of the study
1. To
determine the influence of truancy on students' academic performance.
2. To
ascertain the influence of cheating on students' academic performance.
3. To
determine the influence of alcohol and substance abuse on academic performance.
4. To
ascertain the influence of sexual related problems on academic performance.
Research
Questions
1. Will
truancy have influence academic performance of secondary school students in
Kosofe Local Government area of Lagos state?
2. Will
cheating in examination have influence students' academic performance in Kosofe
Local Government area of Lagos state?
3. Will
Alcohol and substance abuse have influence students' academic performance in
Kosofe Local Government area of Lagos state?
4. Will
sexual related problems have influence on academic performance of students in
Kosofe Local Government area of Lagos state?
5. Will
gender difference have influence academic performance of students in Kosofe
Local Government area of Lagos state?
Research
Hypotheses
1. Truancy
will not have significant influence on academic performance of secondary school
students in Kosofe Local Government area of Lagos state.
2. Cheating
in examinations will not have significant influence on academic performance of
students in Kosofe Local Government area of Lagos state.
3. Alcohol
and substance abuse will not have significant influence on academic performance
of secondary school students in Kosofe Local Government area of Lagos state.
4. Sexual
related problems will not have significant influence on academic performance of
secondary school students in Kosofe Local Government area of Lagos state.
5. Gender
difference will not have significant influence on students’ academic
performance in Kosofe Local Government area of Lagos state.
Significance of the Study
The finding
of this study will equally be relevant to government through the ministry of
education, policy makers, education reformers and school administrators in
providing a lasting solution to the social menace. This study will be useful to
educational administrators and teachers as well as parents as it will suggest
other strategies that can be used to reduce indiscipline among pupils in
schools. This study will also contribute to the existing body of knowledge and
literature on ways of reducing indiscipline in schools.
Delimitation of the Study
This study is
delimited to public secondary schools in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos
State. Also Principals and teachers in Kosofe Local Government area of Lagos
state.
Limitation of the Study
One of the
limitations was time factor; another was transportation and attitude of
respondent which created problem to the researcher.
Operational Definition of Terms
Truancy:
This is the act of habit staying away from school without permission. Most of
the students leave their home every morning but do not get to school.
Discipline: refers to training,
especially of the mind and character, to produce self-control habits of
obedience, the results of which sets rules f r conduct and methods by which
training may be given:
Indiscipline: refers to misbehaviour or deviance or any form of behaviour that
displays disobedience to authority and failure to follow set rules of conduct.
Academic
performance: is defined as the achievement of
performance in the teacher made terminal examination for the senior secondary
school students. Achievements in Mathematics were chosen because in practice,
mathematics is among the subject in the comprehensive/core curriculum which
must be taken by students at all level (National Policy on Education 2004).
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