INDISCIPLINE BEHAVIOURS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN MATHEMATICS AMONG PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS

Indiscipline Behaviours and Academic Performance in Mathematics Among Primary School Pupils

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background of the Study

Indiscipline behaviours have impacted negatively on academic performance in mathematics among primary school pupils. According to Ntem (2002) Indiscipline behaviours is an age long problem affecting youth especially their academic performance in schools. The matter, that is, indiscipline behaviours has become a matter of growing concern to parents, educators, spiritual land community leaders, law enforcement agencies and political leaders. Accordingly, indiscipline behaviours pose a threat to the society. It is a pitiable sight that today’s youths of our land, which are tomorrow’s adults of the nation are increasingly seen entrenching themselves in the path of indiscipline. These behaviours affect their studies in school thus leading to poor academic performance in mathematics in primary schools.

Indiscipline behaviours by pupils is one of the problems affecting pupils habits in school. Behaviours such as vandalism, truancy, stealing, violence at home, lying, examination malpractice for the senior primary and the general deviance behaviours in school and homes contribute greatly to pupils’ poor academic performance in mathematics in primary schools. Thus view is shared by Ntukidem (2005) who observed that some children are spoilt too much and that parents tend to give the children all they demand. Thus, as stated by the author, the child can do damages if ever it happens that the parent does not give him/her what he/she asks for.

The child becomes stubborn and determined to have everything. But such hebaviour is not adequate. At school too he/she will tend to be authoritative and this could be difficult to maintain discipline with the child. This will in turn affects the pupils’ study habit in both home and school and consequently attendance, the pupils may join peer groups which encourage socially unacceptable behaviours. They form and lead group of truant pupils and this discourages learning and has negative attitudes to what the school values highly which is discipline and high academic work. Thus indiscipline behaviours leads to poor academic performance in mathematics among primary school pupils. It is against this background and more that the researcher attempt to examine indiscipline behaviours and academic performance in mathematics among primary school pupils in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area.

 

1.2       Statement of the Problem  

Primary school pupils have not been able to progress steadily in the study of mathematics in schools. This is due partly to indiscipline behaviours exhibited by the pupils themselves. Pupils in the various primary schools shows indicipline behaviours such as disobedience, truancy, dishonesty, stealing, general wickedness, bullying, fighting and other deviant behaviours. Indiscipline cases are so common among pupils of primary school. They are undoubtedly caused by certain factors such as the school, home and peer group influence to mention but few. It should be noted that children are not born with indiscipline behaviours, neither could it be hereditary, but most of these behaviours are practiced and learn overtime till it becomes habit forming. The end or result is that these behaviours affect pupils’ study habit, class attendance, academic concentration and general discipline life.

The authorities also have failed to provide school counsellors which would have provided quality and nice counsel to these pupils. In addition, the researcher have discovered that a proper provision of consistent and loving guidance and training of these indiscipline pupils can positively change their indiscipline behaviours thus improve their academic performance in mathematics in primary schools. With these and other problems, the study investigate indiscipline behaviours and academic performance in mathematics among primary school pupils in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

Originally posted on April 21, 2021 @ 4:39 pm