INDISCIPLINE of TEACHERS in EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS: CAUSES, EFFECTS and SOLUTIONS

That teacher occupies significant position in the education of a child and plays significant role in the development of a nation is to be echoing the obvious. Without doubt, teachers are the fulcrum upon which the lever of educational system rotates. The issue of indiscipline of teachers in educational institution can however go a long way in undermining the realization of the objectives of an institution and education as a whole if not addressed. What constitute act of indiscipline of teacher in educational institution include the following:

- colluding with pupil / student to perpetrate examination malpractices;

- truancy (i.e. staying away from school and classes);

- unauthorized exit from school;

- using students / pupils for domestic and personal activities like cooking, washing of clothes and others;

- gossiping;

- inability to keep appropriate records;

- trading during school period;

- supporting pupils / students against constituted authority (ies);

- sending students on unnecessary errands;

- involvement in secret cult activities;

- smoking during school period;

- Alcohol consumption during school period;

- engaging in out of school activities during school period i.e. farming, commercial driving, trading among others;

- immoral relationship with female pupils / students;

- raping of students;

- refusing to teach pupils / students;

- collecting illegal money from pupils / students.

Several factors can influence teacher's indiscipline. Of particular note is the issue of poverty. Situation where teachers take home cannot really take them to any destination talk less of their home, where family needs could not be met due to poor income would no doubt push such teachers to engage in acts aimed at generating additional income for their sustenance. It is thus not surprising that many teachers consider the period of examination nowadays as the period for 'harvest' due to the illegal money they hope to collect from pupils / students.

Inadequate supervision by institutions' administrators including head of department, vice-principals and principal can encourage the acts of indiscipline among teachers. In an ideal situation, a teacher supposed to be supervised by superiors in the school. Through this, such teacher's excesses and weaknesses would be noticed and corrected. When there is lack of or inadequate supervision of teacher, such teacher's weaknesses would not be detected for possible correction.

Government's factor is another issue in teacher's indiscipline. There is no doubt that teacher's welfares need adequate and prompt attention in the school. The salaries and allowances should be paid promptly so also is their regular promotion and provision of other better conditions of service. Situations where teachers' salaries are not paid as at when due, where promotion is not effected and where other conditions of service are not granted, these would lead to frustration of teachers and to the displaying of unruly behavior in school.

Teacher's indiscipline has grave consequences in the school system. Among these is the contribution to drop out of pupils / students. When teacher engages in immoral sexual relationship with female student / pupil, it can lead to pregnancy, which can terminate such pupil / student's career. Teacher's indiscipline is an impediment to the realization of the objectives of a school and the education system as a whole. When those involved are caught and dismissed, many of them can enlist in armed robbery, prostitution and others to keep the body and soul together since 'Devil always find work for idle hand'.

Due to the position of teacher in educational system, anything that affects teachers would automatically affect the pupils / students that depend on them. Teachers' indiscipline often results to poor academic performance of pupils / students, indiscipline of pupils / students and ultimately a fall in the standard of education.

The need to address the issue of indiscipline among teachers cannot be overemphasized in view of the negative effects. To achieve this goal, educational institutions' administrators should ensure thorough supervision of the teachers in their domain and punish those caught in the act to serve as detterent to others.

Government should pay teachers' salaries and allowances as at when due and improve their conditions of service, to motivate them towards better performance and discourage them from being influenced by money. There is however the need for periodic review of teachers' salaries and allowances in line with the state of the economy. Teachers in educational institutions should have good conscience. They should live above board by refraining from acts capable of bringing them into disrepute in educational institutions.