THE EFFECT OF INDISCIPLINE ON THE HEALTH STATUS OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NIGERIA

THE EFFECT OF INDISCIPLINE ON THE HEALTH STATUS OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NIGERIA

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the 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’ especial health status. It has been discovered that the teacher’s disciplinary measures have been largely unsuccessful in curbing indiscipline in schools.

          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.