Drug Abuse

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Moral can be defined as giving guidance on how to behave decently and honestly. It can also be seen as relating to issues of right and wrong and to how individuals should

behave. It can be seen as something ethical, good, right, proper, honourable, just, principled etc.

 

Decadence means the process of decline or decay in a society especially in its morals. It’s also a state of immorality, corruption, debauchery, dissolution, self indulgence, profligacy, excess etc.(Micro soft Student Encarta 2008.)

 

From the above definitions of moral and decadence, we can easily say what is all about.

 

Moral decadence is decline, decay and profligate in the moral values of individuals and society at large. It is the decay in the ethical values and norms that govern an individual and the society at large. A society where there is decline in moral values, what is wrong becomes right, what society should abhor becomes what they uphold.

 

Therefore relating this to the educational sector, our educational sector has been beclouded with immoral acts (moral decadence). What is said to be ivory tower or citadel of learning has been turned in to a breeding ground for hoodlums, rapist, prostitute, etc. The educational system is losing its moral and social values. The big question is who is responsible for all these immorality? What is the root cause of these social vices? What can possibly be done to curb these ugly vices in our educational system? All these and more will be deliberated in this chapter.

 

Cultism.
Rape.
Examination Malpractices.
Indecent dressing.
Teenage Pregnancy.
Student Prostitution.
Sexual harassment.
Sales of “Grade”.
Student Demonstration etc.

 

We will briefly discuss on the causes of some of these listed above.

 

 

 

 

According to Denga(1991),cultism is a system of religious belief and practice or an ideology. Orukpe (1988) defined secret cult as a group of people who share and propagate peculiar secret beliefs divulge only to members. In addition their initiation procedures often involves secret rituals like swearing by deity, human blood and other procedures which send shivers down  the spines of most people.

 

The origin of secret cult could be traced back in 1953 in Nigeria tertiary institution-University college, Ibadan  now known as university of Ibadan(UI).It was formed by Nigeria’s only Nobel laureate , Prof. Wole Soyinka.Their main objectives include:

To abolish conventions.
To revive the age chivalry.
To end tribalism and elitism.

Their ideas were both patriotic and altruistic as it was not imagined as a secret cult, but simply known as the

According to Nwadike (2003) there are about 45 secret cults in Nigeria institutions of learning, and all are equipped with an elaborate hierarchy, insignia and distinct attire. Some of the most notable of these secret cults group include:

Sea Dogs.
Black Axe.
Aiye.
Vickings.
Daughters of Jezebel.
Amazons.
White Angels.
Black Brassiers.
Buccaneers.
Morphite.etc

 

To gain recognition and popularity.
Lack of proper upbringing by their parents.
Bad association or company.
Poverty.
Fear of the Unknown-
Broken HomeEtc

 

 

 

 

1. It leads to rustication or expulsion of both innocent and guilty students.

2. It leads to outburst of violence on campus which leaves many students wounded, maimed or killed as the case may be.

3. It leads to loss and lack of confidence to the affected students or group.

4. The affected live a life of regrets and pains.

5. Relationship with students, loved ones, parents become bitter, unfriendly or soiled.

6. Leads to armed robbery.

7. Lack of focus in all spheres of life.

8. Not being useful to the society.

9. Relationship with God becomes soiled.etc

 

 

Since we have identified the origin, causes and effects of cultism in our higher institutions of learning, how can this menace be curb through our youth’s involvement? Some of the workable solutions are as follows:

1. The youth should be properly counseled on peer group relationship.

2. Proper moral upbringing of children and wards by parent should be paramount.

3. Any act of intimidation by cultist should be reported to school authority/school security.

4. There should be improved facilities and living conditions on campuses.

5. Youth should have detailed knowledge of the word of God and its Application.

6. School authority should disassociated themselves from sponsoring cultist in order to achieve their selfish aims or desires like being the VC, HOD, DEAN, etc.

7. Youth should involve in aggressive campaign against cultism.

8. The study of guidance and counseling should be imperative in the school curriculum.

9. Students should be engaged in extra curricular activities; this will help to keep them busy and makes them become useful.

10. Youth should develop moral courage to say NO when such offer comes

11. Always have a positive mind set.etc

 

Since cultism has no positive moral upbringing, benefits or development, let’s shun cultism in all totality.

A drug is a substance of biological or chemical origin when applied to a living tissue produces an effect. Drugs include what are commonly called medicine.

 

Therefore drug abuse refers to the use, especially by self –administration of any drug in a manner that deviates from an approved medical or social pattern within a given culture. It is the abnormal use of drugs. Some of the noted illicit substances as drug abuse are: opiods, heroine, marijuana (Indian hemp), phenol barbitone, valium, cocaine, alcohol etc

 

 

 

 

Drug abuse through ignorance.
Deliberate drug abuse.
Drug abuse for pleasure.
Drug abuse from curiosity.
Incorrect drug dosage.

 

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e.g. hashish, marijuana.
e.g. barbiturates, benzodiazepines, methaqualone.
e.g methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), Gama-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), Rohypnol kelamine.
e.g lysergic acid, diethylamide (LSD), Phencyclidine (PCP), Mescaline and psilocybin.
e.g codeine, fentanyl, heroin, morphine, opium, oxycodone, hydrocodone.
e.g. nicotine, cocaine, amphetamines.
e.g glue, gasoline, aerosol spray, paint thinner.

 

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Social factor e.g. peer groups influence.
Parental factor e.g. lack of parental guidance, monitoring and control. Improper upbringing, broken home.
Economical Factor e.g poverty, unemployment and underemployment.
Psychological factor e.g. recognition, to belong and cheap popularity.
Genetic factor e.g. families that are into drug abuse tend to influence others.

 

 

Change in activities e.g not doing home work, sport or spending time with new friends.
Behavioral Changes e.g. aggression, irritability, forgetfulness.
Financial changes e.g request for money that cannot be explained, or disappearing money or valuables.
Risky behavior e.g drinking and driving or having unprotected sex.
Legal trouble eg getting arrested or always in police net.
Changes in appearance e.g being dirty.

 

 

Leads to madness in most cases if not properly handled.
Loss of  sensory perception
Loss of appetite
Low retentive memory.
Leads to criminal acts e.g. stealing ,murdering, robbery etc
Soiled relationship with God.
The person academics/ education suffer.
Always aggressive even when nothing offends him.
Loses recognition and respects.etc

 

 

1. Youths should involve in serious campaign against drug abuse.

2. Avoid risky situation or places eg parties or clubs or unsafe gathering of people.

3. Youths should develop the habit of being patient.

4. Seek help incase of mental disorder.

5. Parent should strengthen their relationship with their children.

6. Parents should set good example by not abusing drugs.

7. Youths should be open to their parents or guidance.

8. Youths should be properly guided in school and at home.

9. Youths should have priorities in life.

10. Study and apply the word of God in your daily living.etc

 

“Why do you choose to destroy your future when God has prepared and given you a blissful future.”

 

 

 

Our higher institutions of learning have been beclouded with indecent dressing most especially the female students. Most girls go bare, displaying their navels and boobs and wearing what just ample cleavages on display, depicting size and shape of their private parts with mini that barely skim the bottom. It appears now to be fashionable; one has to become half nude, dressed in sleeveless/see-through tops without bra.

 

From the above description of indecent dressing, what then is indecent dressing? Indecent dressing is act of dressing contrarily or indecently to a normal dressing code. From Africa perspective, I believe every culture has its dressing code. Though the dressing code might vary from one culture to another but each culture has a standard and acceptable dressing code. So any deviation from such dressing code could be term as indecent dressing.

 

1. Mini and Micro mini skirt.

2. Handless Tops.

3. See-Through Tops.

4. Breast exposure Tops.

5. Pants exposure Trousers.

7. Navel exposure tops.

8. Pant-Free skirts.etc

 

 

Bad association or company.
Wrong use of internet.
Parents.
Want to be recognized and be popular.
To seduce the opposite sex either in school or outside the school.
Lack of basic knowledge on dressing code.

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Fall a victim of sexual harassment.
Fall a victim of rituals.
Lack of concentration in their studies.
Might lead the person to steal.
Develop the habit of telling lies.
Have soiled relationship with God and other decent relations.

1. Youth should be contented with what they have.

2. Youth should be involved in campaign against indecent dressing.

3. Report to the school authority in case of any one that tries to lure you into such act.

4. Parent should be a very good role model.

5. Dressing code should be introduced into the higher institutions of learning.

6. Religious organization should stand firmly and preach against it.etc.

7. The legislators should make provision for such in our constitution.

 

This is an act of involving oneself in illicit sexual intercourse or relationship with an opposite sex, either for money making or for pleasures. The act of sexual promiscuity or prostitution is most common with our female students .In most higher institutions of learning, such act has become a money-making business to the female students. They could also use such act to get what they want on campus. Most students hostels and quarters have been turned into brothel.

 

Students who for the first time gained some social freedom from their parents watchful eyes and guidance easily fall prey to the temptation of eating the “forbidden fruit”. Some of them become so wild on the illicit love making that they give most of their time and attention to it to the detriment of their studies. They become so much engaged in NOCTURNAL activities that they sleep through out the daytime in hostels or during lectures for those who want to register their presence in classes. Some other one will completely abandon their lectures to keep appointment with their boy friends or “sugar daddies”.

 

Economic factor eg poverty, unemployment underemployment, high cost of living etc.
Parental Factor eg most parent encourage their wards to involve in such illicit act. Lack of parental care, counseling and control.
Social factor eg bad company, decadence in the social values of the society.
Lack of sex education at home and in schools.
Intimidation by lecturers/teachers and fellow students.
Students in quest of higher grade or to pass an examination. Etc.

 

 

Loss of social values among students and peers.
Leads to unwanted pregnancy.
Leads to pre mature death-incase of aborting the baby.
Become prone to ritual.
Poor performance in class.
Fall a victim of accident.
Can lead to barrenness as a result of chains of abortion.
Soiled your relationship with God.
Become a reproach to the society. etc.

 

1.  Have the moral courage to say NO, either from fellow students or lecturers/ teachers.

2. Escalate it to the higher authority in case of intimidation by lecturers/teachers or       fellow students.

3. Know that your basic priority in school as a student is your education.

4. Avoid bad peers.

5. Parent should teach their wards sex education before exposing them to the four-walls of education.

6. The school authority with out prejudice or biasness should deal severely with offender.

7. Parent should be a role model; they lead and live by example.

8. Study the word of God and always apply it in all you do.

9. Always have/develop a positive mind-set in what ever you are doing. Etc.

 

 

xamination Malpractice is any act of omission or commission, which compromises the validity and integrity of any examination.-(Ministry of Education, Benue State 2001).It is acting or going contrarily to the rules and regulations guiding the conduct of examinations. Examination which is said to be the true test of knowledge has lost its values as some student can get into any higher institutions with out written or oral examination. In fact this has really become a hard nut to crack among various examination bodies.

The problem of examination malpractices in Nigeria seems to be as old as the introduction of formal system of education (Afigbo 1993).The first major Examination Malpractice was in 1914, when the senior Cambridge local examination leaked. This scenario took an unprecedented surge in 1963 when two public examinations of 1967, 1977, 1981 and 1987 leaked. These leakages then attracted the attention of the federal government, which led to the promulgation of decree 27 of 1973, and miscellaneous decree 20 of 1984 to curb examination malpractices and the latter decree prescribed 21 years jail term for offenders.

 

Experts have identified the following as the causes of examination malpractices:

Inadequate qualified teachers.
Inadequate teaching and learning facilities.
Parental contribution.
Over population of students in a school.
Non completion of syllabus before examination.
Immorality in wider society.
Inadequate supervision of teachers by inspectors.
Absence of guidance and counseling services in school.
Constant closure of schools e.g teachers’ strike or student demonstration.
Non provision of extra curricula activities.
Emphasis on paper qualification or certificate.
Students involvement in cultism, drug abuse, sexual promiscuity and truancy.

 

 

The following are the perpetrators of examination malpractices:

Parent/Guardians who buy exams papers or bribe the examiner on behalf of their wards.
Teachers/Head Teacher, those who collect money from the students to “settle” the invigilators.
Lazy Students.
Examiners/External Invigilators.
The Printer of the exam papers.
Government Officials.
Examination Bodies. etc

 

The various forms of examination malpractices are as follows:

Leakages.
Impersonation.
External Assistance.
Smuggling of foreign materials.
Copying.
Collusion.
Intimidation.
Substitution of script.
Ghost Centers.
Marker malpractice.
Awards and Certificates.
Use of technological devices. Eg Hand set.
Use of body parts.
Signs and symbols. etc

The effects of examination malpractices are so enormous Some of these are as follows:

1.  It destroys the zeal to read.

2. Leads to churning out of half-baked graduates.

3. Makes the examination bodies not to be the true test of knowledge.

4. Makes it difficult for our students to study abroad, reason being that the western     countries have lost confidence in our educational system.

5. Loss of confidence in the affected students.

6. It leads to sabotage on the economic values of a country.

7. Soils your relationship with God and others.

8. Some loss their lives while traveling to special centre for examination.

9.Brings disrespect between the students and the teachers/lecturers.etc.

 

Students/Youths should be able to have the moral courage to pin point any culprit that indulges in such act.
Reading culture should be imbibed among the students. Though reading might be a little bit strenuous but its very interest. The more you read the more knowledgeable you become.
Parents should live up to their integrity. Because any foundation you lay in a child is what he/she grows and go with.
Youths should avoid being lazy. Be up and doing with your academics.
Students should always think of a better tomorrow-that is devoid of all kinds of corruption. Remember that corruption is a cankerworm that renders the entire system useless.
Students should involve themselves in extral mural classes. Classes /Lesson you attend after school hour is an added advantage. It makes you to be ahead of others.
Know that the most precious gift that money can not buy is integrity. Keep you integrity!!!

 

 

 

 

 

30-50% should be deducted from any student involved in exam malpractices.
Disqualify any student involved from taking exam during the current year and coming year.
Government should live up their responsibilities. There should be no sacred cow for any culprit irrespective of his class or position.
Qualified and competent teachers should be recruited.
Education should be taken as a priority by the government and other stake holders. Education should be seen as a pillar and beacon of truth of any nation.
Examination bodies should be overhauled. The “bad eggs” should be out of the system, if not it might as well cause other eggs to rotten.
Examination bodies should partner with other that have proven and tested reputation. These institutes will help in examination supervision. The good news about these institutes is that most of them are NGOs that will require little or nothing to do the job.
Schools involved in exam malpractices should be suspended from taken any form of exams for 5 years. The head of schools/Proprietors and proprietress should be informed.
The Ministry of education should sanction teacher(s) that are involved in examination malpractices. The ministry could hold his/her salary for a year or suspend him.
“Special centers”, “wonderful centers” as the implies should be put to stop. The examination bodies should have nothing to do with such centers. Etc

 

 

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The general increase in the social vices among students of all levels of educational system is alarming. Though this article centers on the role of the youths in curbing this ugly monster (moral decadence), but the truth still remains that all hands must be on deck if this situation is to be dealt with. The wealth of this nation lies in our vibrant youths. These youths when fully given the right mind set and right environment will reposition this nation. As we all know that education is the backbone of any nation, our educational system should not be allow to decay. It’s possible to have a better Educational system.

 

 

 

 

Ministry of education, Benue State 2001. “How to excel in examination and be free from cult.Makurdi, Nigeria. Ministry of education publication.

Denga D.I 1991 “Nigerian Education system. Proposal for a smooth voyage to the year     2000 and beyond.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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