Factors leading to high levels of indiscipline cases among pupils: A case of selected secondary schools in Lusaka District, Zambia

Indiscipline among pupils refers to a situation in which pupils do not control their behavior or obey school rules. Indiscipline entails any act that diverges from acceptable societal norms and values. It is a violation of school rules and regulations which is capable of obstructing the smooth and orderly functioning of the school system. Discipline in a classroom situation, is the ability to guide and control the class towards the attainment of predetermined objectives of education, while Indiscipline on the other hand entails a situation whereby energy and impulses are uncontrolled by moral principles or external authority. To this end, indiscipline in a school may be defined as the unwillingness of pupils and staff to respect authority, obey school rules and regulations, and maintain a high standard of moral and attitudinal behavior conducive to the teaching-learning process as essential to the smooth running of the school. It was for this aim that the study was conducted to analyze factors that lead to a high level of indiscipline among pupils in secondary schools of Lusaka district. The study employed a mixed-method approach and a descriptive survey design that sampled head teachers, teachers, and pupils. Data was obtained from the respondents by means of interviews and questionnaires. The sample consisted of three hundred respondents. Percentages, tables, graphs, and pie charts were used to analyze the data with a combination of software MS Access and MS Excel (version 26). The results of the analysis showed that pupils and teachers agreed on the causes and effects of indiscipline cases in secondary schools which included among others; the Influence of peers, Negative attitudes towards education, Irresponsible parents, and Schools’ inability to enforce rules and regulations. The study therefore recommended that the Ministry of Education should intensify monitoring of schools to ensure that teachers and pupils are fully involved or committed to the teaching and learning process. Additionally, Rules and regulations should be realistic and stated clearly for the absorption of all pupils in all secondary schools.