Factors Responsible For Indiscipline Among Primary School Pupils

INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
It is an accepted fact that children learned reflective, that is their moral conscience in works and that they waver in their obligation and attitude when they obey instructions. It is either because they have not the least doubt as to the importance of the command they have received or that they fear being reprimanded or punished for such disobedience. Adeyemi (1978) said that indiscipline is a behaviour among pupils who are maturing, seeking independence and looking for recognition as individuals. It may manifest itself in stealing, fighting resistance of authority, vandalism, shop lifting and truancy, noise making, examination malpractice etc.

We are aware that growth in crime, especially robbing with violence. Children delinquency and nation are all problems associated with indiscipline. There is a steady growth of vandalism in our schools and even at home. It is now fashionable in the country for school children to engage in all forms of indiscipline. All learning contains a measure of discipline the pupils is a learner and he is only too part of the community in which he lives (home and in the school). From the time a child first enters school and until he leaves it, his behaviour to a large extent is influenced by the growth change going on in his body. The child now needs to be guided or what he should do by parents, teachers and school authorities concerned.

Indiscipline among pupils in schools makes teaching uninteresting, especially when some children misbehave in schools. Teachers find it very hard to punish the children so as to deter them from such behaviour. Most of the problems people experience in their homes, at school and in the society as a whole arise from lack of self discipline or self control. On many occasions, nowadays the pupils will refuse to obey their teachers. It is my duty to identify factors responsible for indiscipline among pupils in primary schools in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM
The problems of indiscipline among primary school pupils in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State in particular and Edo State at large is alarming. The back down in interpersonal relationship or in the observation of rules leads to disorder. Indiscipline among pupils may manifest in stealing, fighting, staying away from school, defiance of authority, vandalism, shop lifting and refusal to go to school. There are expression of defiance and resentment which disrupts normal school progress. Other problems that confront educational institutions are school dropout because of failure in school subjects. This unruly behaviour might be due to poor home background, peer group influence, mass media, drugs and maladministration on the part of the school authority.

With indiscipline among pupils in school in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State, teachers do not have enough time for teaching and learning. This is a matter of concern. Besides, if not checked, pupils may graduate into audit criminals.

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The major objective or purpose of this study is to find out

1. The incidence of indiscipline among primary schools in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State.
2. Effects of indiscipline on children, teachers, parents, school administrations and the society.
3. Useful suggestions on how to tackle the problem of indiscipline in primary schools.
4. The indiscipline among primary school pupils could cause low academic performance of pupils in schools.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The following research questions guide the researcher’s investigation.

1. What are the factors responsible for indiscipline among pupils?
2. What are the effects of indiscipline among pupils in our educational system?
3. What measures have been taken to check alarming factors responsible for indiscipline among primary schools in Nigeria?
4. Has the measures taken been successful, if not, why?
5. To what extent do the pupils is been disciplined?

SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY
The study will be useful to pupils, parents, teachers, school administrations and the community at large. Discipline in school will help in the following ways:

1. Creating an atmosphere of peace and harmony among pupils.
2. Helping to develop sound and healthy mind which would have been otherwise destroyed.
3. Helping the nation to conserve resource, which would have been lost through willful distraction of properties and arson.
4. Enabling pupils to respect their parents, teachers and elders which is a necessary recipe for good and social development.
5. Fastening obedience thereby making people become law abiding and patriotic.
6. Pursuing grievances through constitutional means instead of resorting to

This study will be of great benefit in the following areas by:
Improving discipline among pupils in school finding out ways to stop indiscipline among pupils in primary schools in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. Improving the quality of school administration in primary schools in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State.

SCOPE AND LIMITATION
The study is limited to five selected primary schools in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State. The schools are

1. Iguedaiken Primary School
2. Ezomo Primary School
3. Evboneka Model  School
4. NIFOR Primary School
5. Army Primary School

A great number of limiting factors were experienced in the course of carrying out the research,  they include financial constraints and the study.