The Effects of Indiscipline on Academic Performance of Junior High School Students in the Fanteakwa District of Ghana

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of indiscipline on the academic performance of Junior High School Students (JHS) in the Fanteakwa District of Ghana. During the study, three hundred and sixty (360) participants made up students, headteachers and teachers were sampled. The students were sampled using random simple sampling technique while the headteachers and teachers were sampled purposively. The instruments used to gather all the necessary information about the problem was questionnaire. The study revealed that Indiscipline starts with the home because they are the children’s first teachers. It was also found that the effects of indiscipline on academic performance included; students’ inability to concentrate in class, loss of materials taught due to absenteeism and increase in rate of school drop-out. In order to minimize indiscipline behaviours, the study recommends that; discipline in the society should begin at the home. The home and the school must therefore interact and co-operate in instilling discipline. Also, providing a hearing process for students to present their side of the story and establishing an appeal processes to increase students and parents’ perception of fairness.

Key words: Indiscipline, Student, Performance, Junior High School, Behaviour, Moral decay