PUPILS/STUDENTS' INDISCIPLINE in EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS: CAUSES: CONSEQUENCES and SOLUTIONS

According to Afolabi (1998), discipline is 'the readiness or willingness of an individual to demonstrate decent and decorous conduct, respect for authority, high sense of responsibility, love for orderliness, eagerness to discharge duties with promptitude and efficiency'. When an individual fails to discharge these characteristics, indiscipline is said to have occurred. What constitute indiscipline in school include the following behaviour:

- disobedience to teachers and school's rules and regulations;

- stealing other pupil / student's property (ies);

- staying in hostel during lesson;

- wearing of unauthorized assorted dress (es);

- maltreatment of junior pupil (s) / student (s);

- smoking;

- alcohol consumption;

- drug consumption;

- involvement in secret cult activities;

- participation in students' unrest;

- participation in examination malpractices;

- immoral relationship with female pupil / student;

- unauthorized exit from school;

Lackadaisical attitude of school's administrators towards the pupils / students welfare is a factor that promotes indiscipline in school. There is no doubt that pupils / students have many needs and if they are not provided, it can lead to restlessness and frustration of the pupils / student and eventual indiscipline in the school.

An administrator supposed to make himself / herself available to pupils / students at all times and communicate with them regularly. When an administrator makes himself / herself unapproachable or incommunicado, this can lead to unruly behaviour of the pupils / students. The role of supervision of pupils / students in the school system cannot be overemphasized. Through this, pupils / students will be guided from displaying over zealous actions. If there is lack of or inadequate supervision, the pupils / students would be loose and thus be free to behave the way they like.

A school's administrator supposed to lead by example and serves as role model to the pupils / students. He / she needs to be hardworking, tolerant, honest and humane among others. When an administrator displays contrary traits, this can lead to indiscipline of the pupils/students.

The issue of indiscipline can lead to poor academic performance of pupils / students in the school, which can ultimately affect the career of such pupils / students. Indiscipline can further promote dropout in school. When a pupil / student fails to perform up to expectation, he can be asked to repeat a class, which can terminate such pupil / student's education.

Indiscipline can encourage social vices, which can undermine societal peace. Among these vices are prostitution, rape, kidnapping, armed robbery. The issue of indiscipline can further lower the image of parents since it is believed that parents occupy significant position in the moral training of their children. When a child displays negative behaviour, greater part of the blame would be for the parents. It can further lower the image of the school where it is prevalent. Such school would be treated as 'pariah' among other schools in the community or society.

Curbing indiscipline in educational institutions calls for concerted efforts of the education stakeholders. In this regard, schools' administrators should be alive to their responsibilities, live above board, lead by example, communicate with pupils / students regularly and attend to pupils / students' problem (s) promptly. Parents should also give proper moral training to their children at the home setting, particular at tender age.

Teacher should supervise both academic and extra curricular activities of pupils / students and should always detect and investigate case (s) of indiscipline in the school. Schools' administrator should punish students caught in any act of indiscipline, to serve as determent to others. Government should continue to discharge its responsibilities in education through proper funding of school, to give room for provision of needed facilities for pupils / students. Government should also continue to orientate the students / pupils against the indulgence in acts of indiscipline.