Students’ unrest is the indiscipline shown by students. It is shown in schools in the form of riots, demonstrations, protests, boycotts, harassments, etc. it is becoming a disturbing trend in the economy’s socio-political life. It is essential that students’ unrest is checked before it reaches an alarming level and it poses a great threat to our social development.

Student’s unrest is not peculiar to Ghana alone, it also happens in Europe and America. However, in Advanced Countries, students’ unrest is not conducted in a violent manner. The students protest using means such as placards display, peaceful rallies, and letters to parliament, etc. The students in Ghana need to learn how to protest in a non-violent manner. They protest by burning lives, destroying property, and this is quite appalling. Student must be free to exercise their rights. But they must not take things too far. Students are the leaders of tomorrow, so they must be disciplined now, so that when they grow they will continue in that path.

                

   CAUSES OF STUDENTS UNREST

There are various causes of student unrest. Student show indiscipline for various reasons. The reasons are:

 1)  Bad policy introduced by Government. Whenever Government introduces an unfavorable or bad policy, the student revolt. They believe that the best way to change the situation is to cause havoc and destroy properties. The question is “is it the best way to change the situation?” Students believe that they by rioting, they can get what they want, but little do they know that they are harming themselves by revolting.         

EXAM FEVER / LAZINESS:

Before exams begin, some students might not be well prepared. The procrastinators who insist on reading at the last minute might be caught up in their “game”. These culprits do not want to fail, so they will do anything possible to stop the exams from taking place at the stipulated time. They look for petty and insignificant reasons to start a riot because if riot breaks out, the school will be forced to close down, and the exam date will be postponed.

Sometimes, they pass negative rumors so as to get students angry and excited. They then begin to run around, breaking things in the process. This culminates into a big riot. Every student (even the innocent, hard working ones) begins to riot, but only the lazy ones that started it know the real reasons why they are rioting. The school then closes down, and everyone goes home.

*FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY:

About four weeks before the school year runs out, most of the students are usually broke. They have spent all their money and have run out of provisions. They are forced to “soak gari” in the morning, afternoon, and in the evening. These students will do anything to go back home, so sometimes they decide to go on a strike. They look for very petty reasons why they should strike. The rioting starts and school is closed down. The students, both the “broke” and ones who have enough are forced to go home.

*VIVACIOUS/YOUTHFUL EXUBERANCE:

Students are very youthful and vivacious. They get excited easily, and they will do anything, as long as it is fun. Sometime some students decide to be rowdy. They begin to cause a commotion, and this is part of indiscipline. Sometimes there is no valid, genuine reason for the excitement. The students just feel like making some noise and having fun.

*POOR FUNDING/CORRUPTION

Education funding in Ghana has remained appalling for quite some time now, leading to dilapidated infrastructure, inadequate hostel accommodation, poor library and laboratory facilities as well as outdated teaching aids in the universities and other educational institutions across the country. This has resulting into strike actions leading to poor academic and research work and a general decline in the academic standards in the country.

In some cases, the money is passed down from Government to the Council of the University, but members spend part of the money on themselves and use the other part in the maintenance of the school. Students later find out about the scandal in the newspapers and they go on a strike for better living conditions.

             STUDENTS UNREST IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS.  

Students’ unrest is becoming more rampant in secondary schools. It is however more common in the public schools in the country.

Students in the public schools form gangs, which fight other gangs in other public schools. There is no peace whenever two or more schools meet.

If they come together for an inter-school competition, the school that looses wages a war against the winning school. They attack each other with sticks, stones, or any harmful object. They chase each other and injure themselves.

Unfortunately, the innocent ones suffer. They have to run and hide so as to escape from the bad students otherwise known as the “mafia”. The teachers can do nothing, but run. They cannot stop the students from fighting.

Students’ unrest in Secondary Schools also manifests itself in the relationship between teachers and students in the public schools. When a teacher tries to impose discipline or stick to strict guidelines, students sometimes resist. After the class, the students gang up and threaten or even attack the teacher.  The teacher can no longer discipline the students because he fears that he might also be “disciplined”.