One of the cardinal objectives of education as spelt out in the national policy on education (2004) revised, is to inculcate right type of values and attitudes for the survival of the individual and Nigerian society.
No one can underestimate the value of western education in our society today.
When schools were voluntary agency schools, there was high degree of discipline in the system.
There was harmony as principals, teachers, and students demonstrated awareness of their responsibilities in the school.
Parents and teachers shared the same view of students' desirable behaviors. The quality of school system as regards to discipline was very high until the recent past.
However, when government took over schools from these voluntary agencies, there was high hope that the very best will be seen in the students, only to have the reverse.
Today, there are cases of truancy, lateness to schools, cultism, drug abuse, insulting/ assaulting, stealing, rioting and many other anti-social vices in our secondary schools.
A number of these acts of indiscipline are directed against constituted authorities and established rules. An example of this is refusal to wear the right school uniform and going out of bounds without permission.
This problem of indiscipline in schools has persisted over the years. These acts have either been carried out individually by the students or as a group which result to rioting.
Undoubtedly, students indiscipline generally militates against effective teaching, learning and production of useful acceptable members of the society.
The respects which teachers command among students had been seriously worn-off; and some teachers have not done much to help the situation by their actions.
This problem has turned to a national issue. Our leaders in the past have tried to remedy this situation but the problem proved not to be solved .
The situation in schools in Uyo metropolis is even worse as students and teachers stroll to schools at their leisure. The official resumption hour has been ignored, while quacks are employed to teach what they do not have fair knowledge of.
Nobody monitors the activities of teachers, not to talk of that of students. 10:00 a.m now become the official resumption hour for students as no one can identify break time and closing hours.
Today, it is believed that teachers are frustrated and lack motivation in themselves and are not likely to motivate others to learn or invest their time in productive education.
The rising indiscipline in Akwa Ibom schools is caused by all and sundry. Parents appear to have denied their parental roles or responsibilities towards their children. Government contribute to indiscipline by not providing adequate facilities/equipments in schools.
The societal influence contributes to indiscipline among secondary school students due to economic recession.
Peer group contribute to indiscipline among students in the form of uncomfortable environment where the students are scared of their parents.
However, this rising indiscipline among secondary school students can be curbed if Akwa Ibom state Ministry of Education will fallback to the old system of putting a capable and selfless monitoring team to monitor the activities of teachers, students and the principals of schools in the state.
The Ministry must also put a stringent measure to punish any student or group of students caught roaming the town during school hours with school uniform on, as well as penalizing the teachers on duty.
Parents and guardians must show undiluted support to government by encouraging their wards to take education serious for their own benefits.
The society must encourage the students to remain focused in their academic pursuit to ensure a crime free state in no distance time.
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