18th November, 2022.
From: Blessings Bandawe, Namaka Community Day Secondary School, Private Bag 3, Njuli.
To : The Minister, Ministry of Education, Post Office Box 150, Lilongwe.
INDISCIPLINE CASES AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS
I write to report on indiscipline cases among secondary school students in Malawi which have
caused panic among authorities in the education sector.
Firstly, there is a number of these indiscipline cases among secondary school students of which
one of them is teasing and bullying. This is common among senior students who are fond of
ill-treating junior students like form ones, for example, recently, some form four students at
Namaka Secondary School have been suspended for teasing and bullying form one students.
Another indiscipline case is abuse of drugs and substances. Some students are used to drinking
of beer and smoking of chamba. This is common among both boys and girls who think that
smoking chamba can help them perform well in class. Sometimes, some of these students do
this due to peer pressure.
In addition, theft is also another indiscipline case which is common among secondary school
students in our schools in Malawi. Cases of stealing and vandalism of school property are
rampant in many schools. There have been reports that students are fond of stealing books from
their school libraries. Not only that but also there are cases of deliberate vandalism of school
property like tables and desks. This sometimes happens when students demonstrate against
management at a school.
These cases are common in our schools due to a number of factors. One of them is lack of
enforcement of rules and regulations at school level. Many students do not fear of breaking
rules and regulations of the school because they are not punished whenever they break such
rules and regulations. For example, recently, at Nkhande Community Day Secondary School,
one of the secondary schools in Chiradzulu District, six form four students who were found
cheating in the 2022 term two examinations are not punished up to date. Furthermore, weak
leadership also contributes to these indiscipline cases in schools. Some schools do not have
strong leadership such that students are always at liberty to do whatever they want.
When these cases are not checked, they lead to various effects. One of them is failure of
examinations. for example, if students are used to abusing drugs and substances, they end up
not attending lessons because much of their time is spent in non-educational issues. In the end,
when examinations come, they fail miserably. In addition, some students are suspended and
even expelled from school if they are found being involved in the malpractices explained
above.
Finally, there is something to be done as a ministry so that these indiscipline cases are no longer
in our schools. The ministry should sensitize leadership in schools so that there is proper
reinforcement of rules and regulations. Not only that but also there is need to establish vibrant
leadership in schools so that these school rules and regulations are properly reinforced.
Furthermore, students can also be civic educated on the negative effects of various malpractices
which lead to indiscipline in schools.
In conclusion, it is my expectation from you to intervene in these matters so that we build bright
future in students in our Malawian secondary schools.
Blessings Bandawe
SAMPLE QUESTION
Imagine that there are rampant indiscipline cases among secondary school students in Malawi
which cause panic among authorities in the education sector. As a concerned person, write a
report to the minister responsible informing him or her of the matter.
