THE CAUSES OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOUR AMONG SOME SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

CHAPTER ONE

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

          Deviant behaviour can be defined as not keeping to the rules or norms of the society, or the schools norms. According to Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary six editions define deviant behaviour as differently from others usually of expected and according to chambers dictionary in twentieth century. Deviant behaviour is to deviate from the norms of a particular people in the society or community. That is turning aside or away  from set shown rules of political system or principle of a social, such behaviour could be seen as crime, drunkenness, indiscipline in school, home prostitution, cultism, gambling, other. It has been observed that quite number of students in higher institution of learning are deviant behaviour they become deviant when they engage in activities which are neither under the control of the school system in the society. In Nigeria society today is developing hence it required an education system that will enable the youth to understand the society and cultural heritage. This will help in the preservation of the society and the culture and will also help in preparing of citizens for a changing attitude, knowledge, skills manpower, and experience in the societies. The education of the youths is very essential in order to ensure the confidation of the citizens to the social and economic development of the country as well as raining the standard of living generally.

          Nigerian education system must stimulate the spirit of patriotism and lay the solid function of national and international understanding and cooperation in our children. Through education service those manifestation can be eradicated of deviant behaviour in schools, of which a lot of bad behaviour are such smoking drunkenness, stealing, abortion, murder, gambling, prostitution etc. the eradication of which can be done by attempting to restructure the in term and organization of the school, peer group, religious institutions and all other primary organizations in the society. The family as an agent of socialization could have significant impact on the child. This is evident from the fact that it is the first place where the child learn about leadership and what it takes, here basis skills and behaviour pattern have to behave in the home are taught by the parents. The school as agent of socialization and training institution for out future learners and manpower needed in our society is also faced with an acute problem which also affect the society as large. This problem is that of deviant behaviour which a form of indiscipline is. The problem of deviant society manifest itself in the Nigeria society and most of our school product for example lack of total commitment and dedication of their work, lateness to work, absenteeism, neglect of duty and parent who feels less concern about their children by going late when the children are already asleep etc. all these have a way of retarding progress of work and also limit our effectiveness and efficiency. The school a guasi organization should be able to deliver real services, which is geared to the betterment of the government and the society, such as the ability to teach morals, punctuality, regularity, honesty, dedication to work and loyalty to work. This means that the schools should be able to produce disciplined pupils whom will later become good citizens who are free from any deviant act or behaviour be it drug addiction, gambling, truancy in school, abortion, smoking, sexual immorality, failure to serve punishment, murder, prostitution, bribery and corruption etc.

  Deviant behaviour is an act of indiscipline or behaviour disorder which served as a major is of great source of some social vices in Nigeria society, which is of great concern to the parents, government and teachers. Source of these social vices are increased rate of dropout in school drug abuse among youths, gambling, stealing, pick pocket and they also constitute nuisance of the society.

           There is an adage which says that idle mind is the devils workshop. This denotes since deviant behaviour has made student to involve in bad habit they move about not staying in school to learn and they move about the streets and alleges without sense of direction, they are likely to meet with bad friends who are corrupt and learn all form of bad act from there they are likely to be tempted to engage in deviant behaviour’ such as stealing drunkenness, committing abortion, absenteeism from school and others.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The study is concern with the investigation of the cause of deviant behaviour among some selected secondary students and how it affects the academic performance of the child in some selected schools in Oredo Local Government Area in Edo State.

The   influence of student background on deviant behaviour in schools as well as examine the possible influence of the school environment teachers, parent, society, peer group ups behaviour in promoting deviant behaviour among student. To arrest or minimize the ugly situation and answer to the following questions would be sought out.

i could the effect of deviant behaviour contribute to the performance of the child.

ii. To what extent has deviant behaviour contribute to the academic performance of the child?

iii. Could deviant behaviour attribute to parent inability to meet the student school need?

iv. Could deviant behaviour cause students dropout from school

THE PURPOSE OF STUDY  

This study is concern to sets out and achieves the following.

i.             To investigate whether parents in some ways, either knowing or unknowingly contribute to the deviant behaviour of students in secondary school.

ii.            To determine whether the  nature of the school  administration has influence whether the socio-economic factors in Oredo local government area of Edo State have any influence on deviant behaviour among secondary school students.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY   

This study will reveal that the incidence of deviant behaviour among some selected students in Oredo local government area of Edo State is high.  The suggestion to be made in this study will go along way to minimize the problem. Basically, this study is necessary and it is important to the development of children, mostly in this our present complex society. To provide an insight to child needs and how best these could be met.

RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS

1.            Why is deviant behaviour common among secondary school students?

2.            What are the effect of deviant on the academic performance in secondary school, what role can the parents school society and the environment in which they live where play to control deviant behaviour in secondary school.

3.            What are the possible solutions that could be adopted to eradicate deviant behaviour in secondary schools?

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Peer group: people who are similar in development level such as age, education and other qualifications.

School administration: It is a formalized system which, plan, coordinate, organize, staff, reporting and evaluating of all matters of the entire school affairs.

Truancy: Act or habit of staying away from school without permission.