PERCEPTION AND ATTITUDE OF STUDENTS TOWARDS DISCIPLINE IN SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN OTA

Discipline is essential to engender stability. It deals with a student's behaviour in school and relations to rules and regulation governing the school so as to make it a favourable environment for effective teaching and learning. Discipline is a system of guiding the learners to make reasonable decisions and good management of discipline saves substantial resources and time for administrators, teachers and students. The purpose of the study was to investigate the perception and attitude of students towards discipline. The study adopted a cross sectional survey design where both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used. Four hundred and seventy-eight (478) students comprising of 277 males and 201 females were randomly selected from two secondary schools to participate in the study, with age ranging from 14 to 19 years. Data was collected by means of a structured questionnaire consisting of both open and close ended statements. Result show that secondary schools are plagued with disciplinary problems but that experienced principals and teachers could endanger discipline in schools. The study found that peer group pressure could be positively channelled to facilitate discipline. Qualitative data dealing with ranking of disciplinary issues and means to ensure discipline were discussed. This study shows that engaging students, principal's years of work experience and using students as peer counsellors can promote discipline for effective teaching and learning environment.