The question of indiscipline at school is taking on an alarming dimension. If a report is to be written on discipline, words like misbehaviour, rowdiness, carelessness, irresponsibility, vandalism, etc. would be on the top of the list. Many factors are responsible for changing the mentality of our students and such a state of affairs has a bearing on school life. Teachers play a key role in shaping the future of their students.

A teacher is someone who wins the respect of one and all. He embarks on a noble task and during the exercise of his function he becomes a person of great concern for all parents. He holds high esteem in every society. The appellation guru, ustad and prof: talks high about his function in society. But for the new generation, it seems that the attribute of a teacher is no more than physical and material otherwise, respect and reverence showed by students to teachers is rather related to spirituality.

In the olden days school was a place where students were more submissive and respectful. Due to this characteristic demonstrated by students, it was easy for teachers to maintain discipline in the class. However, by being docile and submissive, I do not mean to say that students in the past were not aware of their rights, but the respect shown to their teachers made them more sensitive to discover their responsibilities as students. Turbulent students were brought to order by parents and teachers. Parents were more concerned about the behaviour of their wards and would intervene between teachers and students when the question of indiscipline arose.

We understand that things have taken drastic changes since the last generation. Today people are living in an age of high technology and our youth are the fist to be impacted by the outcome of such changes. They are exposed to a variety of information emanating from different sources. The young are supposed to be impulsive and owing to this impulsiveness they become tremendously vulnerable to the influence of powerful media. It is an undeniable fact that the media are there to disseminate information, but its negative aspects have an effect on the youth.

Changes are taking place very rapidly. Every one is taken up by his own responsibility. Parents are busy with their professional life, students with their school life. In between them, enticing elements like TV and video use have relegated both parties to silence. In the absence of communication between parents and students, the latter finds support with his peers. Social needs are paramount because they help the child to make friends. But peer pressure can also jeopardize his upbringing and can lead him astray.

In the endeavour to make Mauritius a knowledge hub, we happen to divorce education from moral values. Swearing before teachers is becoming an inherent habit. In the class much time is taken by teachers to create an atmosphere conducive to learning. Misbehaviour by rowdy students forces the teacher to push hard his energy. For some students, it has become a pleasure to create trouble because they are able to recuperate the lost lesson during private tuition.

However, not all students are to be blamed, some are conscientious and try to face the surging wave of temptation and peer pressure boldly. They have already in their minds the objective of going ahead with their education. They stand firm to defy all adverse circumstances to achieve their vaulting ambition.

The issue of indiscipline concerns all parents in Mauritius. We can neither turn a deaf ear nor a blind eye on this problem. All the stakeholders relating to education must reflect over this matter and try to bring a solution before it is too late. The youth of today are supposed to be the leaders of tomorrow. But an indisciplined, uncultured and bad-mannered youth will be unable to lead others.

Cassam TUPSY