1.1 Introduction
Indiscipline is a destructive behaviour which does not promote peace and co-existence in society. This behaviour is a canker to many nations in the world as it is a threat to the lives of these young ones. Many efforts have been made by several world leaders to curtail this growing notoriety especially among school children but it is regrettable to say that there is no single day the media will not report of incidence of indiscipline in newspapers, on the radio and television (Clinard & Meier, 2015). The causes of these acts of indiscipline among pupils as stated by teachers and parents were attributed to the home and school environment, teacher related factors in addition to the other emerging phenomenon outside our Nigerian culture.
History, as a subject, offers unique insights into the past, fostering critical thinking, analytical skills, and a deep understanding of societal dynamics. Yet, despite its significance, many secondary school students struggle with history, experiencing academic failure and underperformance. Academic indiscipline encompasses a spectrum of behaviors, including truancy, lack of attention in class, disobedience, and academic dishonesty. These behaviors not only disrupt the learning process but also impede academic progress, leading to failure in various subjects, including history.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Research hypothesis and questions, Limitation of the study and Definition of terms.
1.2 Background of Study
School discipline implies students with a code of behaviour often known as the school rules (Koomson et al., 2005). Again, they state that some of the school rules may set out the expected standards of clothing, time keeping, relationship with peers (both teachers and pupils) and school work. They concluded by saying that there are several of such rules in every school. Indiscipline, in the view of Ayertey (2002), is a kind of behaviour that deviates from the generally accepted norms as seen in almost all facets of the society; at home, in schools, government and religious places. Keoreng (2004) also contended that indiscipline among school children has become a global problem. He mentioned that the rise of cultism, vandalism, examination malpractices, squandering of school fees by students, and truancy among many others are common among school children.
He emphasized that indiscipline children are everywhere. Indiscipline is a behaviour that calls for application of sanctions. Indiscipline is a kind of human behaviour that is purely unethical and not in conformity with the norms and values of the society. Economic background of the students, Adeyemo 1999 says that there are some students who are house help, so such student find it difficult to come to school early, because they have too many house choose to finish before coming to school. This make them come to school late, there by disobeying the school rules and regulations.In the development of every nation, children are seen as future assets, since they serve as potential human resources to replace the old ones in the near generation. For this to come into realization, it is important to ensure that these young ones are not only preserved but disciplined so they can remain focused in life, sharpen their skills and enhance their talent. In contrast to these expectations from the young ones,
Koomson et al (2005) further asserted that sometimes, the term school discipline may not only apply to code of school rules. They claim the term may also be applied to punishment as a consequence of transgression of the school code of behaviour. For this reason, the usage of school discipline may sometimes mean punishment for breaking school rules. Discipline can be defined as training, especially of the mind and character, to produce self-control habits of obedience, the result of which sets rules for conduct and methods by which training may be given (Kuh et al., 2004).
Indiscipline may be seen as quality of individual always doing things in a wrong way by neglecting the rules and regulations. The oxford advanced learners dictionary, defines it as lack of control in the behaviours of a group of people. In other words, it is the inability of a person to live in accordance with rules. Humidity, there are some student whose parents are naturally bad. That is those parents who make trouble with people outside, insult people and even get to the extent of fighting. Etc. The children of such parents are not expected to be have different from their parents because they will eventually inherit.
Prout & James (2003), in their study, observed growing acts of indiscipline among school children which has become a universal challenge facing many countries. Indeed, the acts of indiscipline could be traced to the early period when individuals became conscious of organizing themselves into groups. This act of moral decadence is evident from several studies, pointing to the fact that the level of indiscipline, especially in schools has escalated (Idu & Ojedapo, 2011; Maphosa & Shumba, 2010). Therefore, in Nigeria where the research was carried out, the activities that was conducted is to know the Academic Indiscipline and Failure among Secondary School Students in History.
1.3 Statement of Problems
Investigation revealed that many secondary school students exhibit disinterest and apathy towards history education, resulting in low levels of engagement both inside and outside the classroom. Also, instances of academic dishonesty, such as plagiarism and cheating, undermine the integrity of history education, compromising the learning experience for both students and educators.
Additionally, perceived lack of relevance in the history curriculum diminishes students' motivation to learn, leading to disengagement and underachievement. Also, challenges in maintaining discipline and order within the classroom environment hinder effective teaching and learning experiences, exacerbating academic indiscipline and failure.
Furthermore, traditional teaching approaches may fail to resonate with students, leading to boredom and disengagement. The mismatch between instructional methods and student learning preferences contributes to academic indiscipline and failure. Hence, it is against this backdrop that this study aims to investigate the Academic Indiscipline and Failure among Secondary School Students in History.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of Study
The aim of the study is to investigate the Academic Indiscipline and Failure among Secondary School Students in History using Ilorin in Kwara State as a case study. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows:
- To examine the prevalence and nature of academic indiscipline among secondary school students in history;
- To identify the underlying causes of academic failure in history among secondary school students;
- To explore the impact of socio-economic factors on academic indiscipline and failure in history; and
- To explore potential interventions and strategies to address academic indiscipline and failure in history among secondary school students.
1.5 Research Questions
The study came up with research questions so as to be able to ascertain the above stated objectives. The specific research questions for the study are stated below as follows:
- Are there factors leading to academic failure in history among secondary school students?
- What is the prevalence and nature of academic indiscipline among secondary school students in history?
- What is the impact of socio-economic factors on academic indiscipline and failure in history?
- What are the potential interventions and strategies to address academic indiscipline and failure in history among secondary school students?
1.6 Research Hypothesis
In order to pursue the objective of this study, the following generalized statements have been designed to guide and aids in obtaining the result for the experiment to be conducted. For this work, the null hypothesis will be represented with H0 while the alternative hypothesis will be represented with hypothesis H1.
Hypothesis One
- H0: There is no significant relationship between academic indiscipline and failure among secondary school students in history
- H1: There is a significant relationship between academic indiscipline and failure among secondary school students in history
1.7 Significance of Study
The findings of this study will inform the development of evidence-based policies and practices aimed at reducing academic indiscipline and improving student performance in history. Also, educators will find this research useful by utilizing the insights to refine teaching methods and curriculum design, while policymakers can implement targeted interventions to address systemic issues contributing to academic failure.
Furthermore, parents play a crucial role in supporting their children's education. This study can empower parents with knowledge about the factors influencing academic performance in history and strategies to support their children effectively. Increased parental involvement can create a supportive home environment conducive to learning and academic success.
Finally, the findings of this research will contribute to the existing body of literature on academic indiscipline and failure in secondary education, particularly in the context of history education. Researchers and scholars can build upon the findings to further explore related topics, develop theoretical frameworks, and propose innovative solutions to enhance student outcomes.
1.8 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Investigation into Academic Indiscipline and Failure among Secondary School Students in History using Ilorin in Kwara State as a case study.
1.9 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
1.10 Definition of Terms
Indiscipline:
It is a kind of behaviour that deviates from the generally accepted norms as seen in almost all facets of the society; at home, in schools, government and religious places (Ayertey, 2002).
Academic Indiscipline:
It refers to behaviors or actions exhibited by students that deviate from expected norms and standards in the academic setting. These may include truancy, disobedience, lack of attention in class, disruptive behavior, and academic dishonesty.
Academic Failure:
It occurs when students do not meet the expected standards of performance in their academic endeavors. in the context of this study, academic failure specifically pertains to subpar performance or low grades in history subjects among secondary school students.
Secondary School Students:
It refers to individuals enrolled in educational institutions that provide education beyond the primary level but before tertiary education. In this study, secondary school students typically range from grades 7 to 12, depending on the educational system in the respective country.
