Following rules or a code of conduct, whether at home or school, is what education experts believe every student should strive for. However, the load of making sure students adhere to the rules set in place by a school shouldn’t solely be assigned to teachers, educationists say. Issues like dress code, hair dos and basic manners, start from home. Sam Ogawng, an English and literature teacher at Mother Mary Complex School in Kibagabaga, says if discipline is not tackled at an early age, then quality education won’t be achieved. How discipline affects education Ogawng says that for learning to have its full impact, discipline should not be taken for granted. He observes that if students at all levels are disciplined, the acquisition of knowledge and skills will be achieved with ease. “The two pillars, that’s to say parents and educators, especially heads of institutions, play a great role in grooming learners. “Charity begins at home and it does not end there, when a student is disciplined, it eases the learning process at different levels,” he says. He notes that disciplined students will always shine, explaining that this is because they are focused and self-driven. He advises parents to go back to the drawing board; for example, like in ancient times when parents spent time with their children to discuss all sorts of issues, including discipline. However, he says, it’s hard these days for parents to do so as they are always occupied with work. Silver Busobozi, the dean of students at Riviera High School, says there is an increasing need to strengthen guidance and counselling departments in schools, to help students attain set values. He says that the intervention of parents should not be ignored. However; the issue today is that parents expect teachers to play a pivotal role in promoting discipline in learners, while in a real sense; this task has to be shared. “Most parents are reluctant to impose moral authority to learners, therefore, teachers take the place of parents to guide the discipline of students,” he says. Busobozi notes that the modern parent is obsessed with the determination to create a future for their children, and in so doing, creates less or no time at all to interact with the academic and disciplinary progression of their learners. “The truth of the matter remains that a child whose social and spiritual discipline is strong has high chances of academic excellence,” he adds. Enock Nkulanga, the national director, African Children’s Mission, says students can’t learn without discipline as the school will be in chaos. He points out that when it comes to the discipline of learners, the challenge is that we tend to focus and talk only about instilled discipline, the discipline that is instilled in children by parents, or because of school rules and regulations. Nkulanga is of the view that the most important discipline is self-discipline. It should be cultivated within by an individual (student), by setting standards and determining how far they can go amidst numerous obstacles. What to do Emmy Ndangamira, a mathematics and disciplinary teacher at Little Angels School in Kicukiro, says parents and schools can strive to cultivate or instil discipline in children and students respectively, but still fail and end up with unmanageable students. He says that it’s good for students to learn how to be responsible in all areas, and that this should start when they are still very young. “Disciplined students strive for higher standards, which propels them to higher academic achievement. They bring public glorification to their institution, which trickles down to how the institution strives to maintain higher standards,” he says. Ndangamira says that for schools or parents to have disciplined students, schools especially should look into participatory approaches which involve making imposed policies. “I feel students should be involved, beginning with the student leadership body. Inspiring students to have a spirit of belonging, and encouraging involvement in building their school as a great institution goes a long way in making sure that students feel proud of how they are involved in the decision making process that affects their institution,” he observes. How should indiscipline be approached? Jacky Irabagiza, counsellor and matron at Martyrs Secondary School in Remera, says punishing students builds resentment and ‘hard hearts’. The best approach, Irabagiza says, is to encourage a disorderly student to acknowledge their fault and show remorse. School leadership should be willing to forgive. She notes that in situations where students commit the same fault repeatedly, they should be sent home to bring their parents to the school. They should then take an oath to not make the same mistake again. Irabagiza says that this should be strict and every school or institution should embrace the method, as it helps shape learners to fit in society as responsible citizens. “When learners are made to reflect on their wrongdoings, they’ll strive to be better,” she adds. Ndangamira says that having ways to discipline students in school is vital, and that parents should be aware of this. He says that teachers should avoid corporal punishment, as this does not help; on the contrary, it makes a student’s behaviour even worse. Alternatively, he advises, a teacher should try lighter retribution for learners to show remorse for their actions. Depending on the student’s fault, a teacher should be in the position to involve the parents. When struggles of parents and teachers join forces, it becomes much easier to guide a learner in the right direction. Irabagiza says that parents should correct their children whenever they make a mistake, rather than sympathise with them. Parents share their views James Hakurimana ‘Charity begins at home’ so I believe parents should be blamed first if students portray rowdy behaviour. Working together with teachers can help parents groom children to be responsible. ----- Loice Mbabazi I think instilling religious values in children is vital because they will always behave in ways that are righteous. Also, understanding the root of a child’s behaviour is important. ----- Rosaline Rurangwa The cases of students wearing short skirts show how undisciplined our children are, and the schools that permit it. The issue also drops our image as parents. Parents have a vital role to play in the education of a child. When a child, however, displays negative behaviour, greater part of the blame should be for the parents. ----- Modeste Asiimwe I think students who misbehave should be reprimanded by parents and teachers in front of other students. This can be a warning to other students, making them afraid to indulge in such behaviour. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
