2.1.1 Causes of Students Unruly Behaviour
1. Family background
Some characteristics of the family have an impart on the adolescent behaviour at school (oloyede &Adesina, 2013). Child neglect and abuse by family members, exposure of the child to parental criminal activities and behaviour and acts of violence, the availability and use of dangerous weapons and drugs at home, divorce or remarriage of either parent are some of the family situations that negatively impact on the adolescents behaviour (Adigeb &MBA, 2015;Magazine & Ngara, 2014;Seegopaul, 2016). Too much authority on the adolescent may decrease the self-concept and the ability of problem-solving and effective communication (Rahman, Shahrin & Kamaruzaman, 2017).
2. The Social –Economic Status of the parents
The social- economic status of the parents influence the behaviour of the adolescent. Khalifa Bailey, Amen & Mirza (2016) found that there is a moderate positive relationship between parental income/status /occupation and the adolescents academic performance and behaviour in the same vein, Sonali (2016) confirmed that students from low socio-economic status have a great academic stress and therefore, behaviour problem than those with high socio-economic status. Arum and Ford (2012) add that the broader the economic inequality and social distance among adolescents at schools, the more disruptive they are.
The lack of parental involvement in the school activities also may encourage students to be unruly. In fact, parents cannot leave the responsibility of disciplining students onto the school only, they should collaborate with the school (De Atougnia, 2014). It is thus obvious that a lack of parental participation and support in the enforcement of school discipline is likely to contribute to students unruly behaviour. However, educators and the principal do not welcome parental involvement (Masabo, Muchopa & ku other, 2017)and they limit it to voluntary social events, fund raising and orientations(chkudos, 2016,Jodut,2015).So there is likely to be more unruly behaviour among students of secondary schools.
3. The School
Unruly behaviour of some teachers and lack of adequate support services like overcrowded classroom, unequipped laboratories, libraries and hostels accommodation where they are available may lead to students’ unruly behaviour. Some teachers with loose manners often influence students negatively. Besides, dysfunctional school administration and hostile leadership style could cause students’ unruly behaviour.
4. Lack of School Facilities
Lack of school facilities is another important issue in school discipline. Most children in public schools have no textbooks, exercise books, writing materials, sandals, school lockers and many other needs. Some schools have little or no equipment. They have no seats; lack of instructional materials or improvised instructional materials can cause riots among the children.
5. Peer Influence
Many learners misbehave because of pressure from their peers at school (Njoroge and Nyabuto, 2014). Peer-groups exist virtually in every school setting and the group influences the individual to partake in some actions be it negative or positive to be seen as part of the group i. e the “peer group “takes the goal of every individual against their personal goals. Outside the family, peer groups have been seen to have greater influence on individuals in the aspect of indiscipline. The peers are grouped sometimes as cultists, smokers, Robbers, etc which an individual who belongs serve the purpose of the interest of the group he/she belongs against his /her interest. Mostly in schools, Peer groups are found and it poses threat to discipline. A child who is disciplined stay in class attentively and is ready to learn. A bad peer teaches its member indiscipline in and out of schools. Students learn stealing, quarrelling, gossiping, fighting, stubbornness, truancy, practicing pornography etc. Wicker (2002),the influence of peers whether positive or negative, is of critical importance in a teens life. This then lead one to conclude that whether parents or teachers like it or not, the opinions of the child’s peers often carry more weight than theirs. Peer pressure is normally effective in student because students spend more time in schools and in subgroups despite their opinion in those groups (Wickersley, 2002).
