The forms of indiscipline exhibited by teachers in public schools of Zimbabwe
Keywords:
Indiscipline, public schools, embezzlement, improper associationAbstract
Teacher indiscipline is a threat to the production of knowledge within the teaching and learning environment. Discipline of teachers is a complex and controversial aspect to assess in public schools due to their influence in the community. The objective of this study was to identify forms of indiscipline exhibited by secondary school teachers in public schools. Purposive sampling was used to select the participants and data was analysed using thematic content analysis. The case study was used as a research design in this study. The participants were made up of junior teachers, senior teachers, school deputy heads, school heads, human resources officers, schools inspectors, and district schools inspectors. Data was generated using two different methods which were in-depth face-to-face interviews and document analysis. The study found that unauthorised absence from duty, embezzlement of school funds, collection of unauthorised/unapproved levies, stealing of school assets in the form of pilfering, bribing, corruption, altercations with learners’ parents, and improper association with female learners by male teachers among others, were established as the main forms of indiscipline among secondary school teachers. The study findings recommend that future research should investigate the persistent causes of indiscipline established in this study among secondary school teachers
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Published on: 01-03-2026
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