Students’ Indiscipline: Types, Causes and Possible Solutions: The Case of Secondary Schools in Cameroon

Abstract

This study explores students’ indiscipline in secondary schools in Cameroon. The purpose of this research is to examine the familiar or common forms, the causes and probable ways to curb indiscipline in schools.  The study made use of descriptive survey research design. The study was guided by four research questions whereas two hypotheses were formulated and tested. The sample comprised of 3,240 participants drawn from 120 schools (of the public, lay private and denominational schools) in four regions of Cameroon which were chosen by applying equal probability sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was questionnaire composed of thirty (30) items was used. The study used triangulation sampling techniques by applying probability sampling techniques (simple random sampling) to arrive at the sampled students of the target population and other participants. Stratified sampling was equally used since the nature of the sample population is heterogeneous. The study used triangulation sampling techniques by applying probability sampling techniques. Meanwhile probability sampling techniques included simple random sampling to arrive at the sampled students of the target population and other participants (teachers, discipline masters and mistresses, principals and vice principals. Stratified sampling was equally used since the nature of the sample population is heterogeneous. Descriptive statistics parameters included percentage and mean which were used in answering the research questions while one way ANOVA was employed to test the hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance. The results  showed that  the  familiar and common  types  of  indiscipline  as disobedience to  teachers  and  school prefects included  collective misconduct of students and unacceptable habits. Students’ indiscipline behaviours were classified on three bases as follows: students-based, society-based and school- based causes. Possible remedies to curb indiscipline in secondary schools include moral leadership, moral education/instruction, education orientation and behaviour-accountability policy implementation.  The  recommendations made in this piece of work are that  the  government of Cameroon,  Educationists, Educators,  policy makers,  school  administrators  and  parents  should  ensure  that  adequate facilities are provided in schools for effective teaching and learning, adequate playing ground, and physical education. Moral education/instruction bodies must reinforce their efforts at ensuring that acceptable moral training is given to children.

Keywords: students’ indiscipline, types, causes, possible solutions, secondary schools, Cameroon

Abbreviations

LSA: Lower sixth Arts

LSS: Lower Sixth Science

U.S.A:  Upper sixth Arts

USS: upper Sixth Science

PTA: Parent-Teacher Association

FGD: Focus Group Discussion

ICTs: Information and Communication Technologies