Parents' Perception of the Relationship between Discipline and Abuse of Students by Teachers in Delta State Post Primary Education

The study spotlights parents’ perception of the relationship between discipline and abuse of students by teachers in Delta State post-primary education. Discipline in educational settings is a crucial aspect of student development, aimed at teaching responsibility, respect, and self-control. However, the line between discipline and abuse can often become blurred; leading to a range of perceptions among parents regarding what constitutes acceptable disciplinary practices that does not infringe on the rights of the child. This uncertainty can result in conflicts between parents, teachers, and schools, and potentially affect students' educational experiences and well-being. Qualitative and quantitative survey were deployed using ex-post facto design. The sample used for this study is 250 parents, 25 teachers and 25 students in the study area. The sampling procedure used was the stratified random sampling technique. This was done by dividing the total population into smaller groups known as strata and taking random samples from each group. Questionnaire titled “Parents’ Perception of Discipline and Abuse Questionnaire - PPDAQ” was used as the instrument to collect data from participants. The researcher administered a total of 250 questionnaires to randomly selected participants in the study area. Simple percentages, mean scores, standard deviation and coefficient of determination using 2.50 as a benchmark to provide answers to the research questions. Pearson Product Moment Statistics was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. In conclusion, parents’ perception of the relationship between discipline and abuse of students by teachers varies and is widely influenced by different factors such as cultural background, socio-economic status, religious beliefs, personal experiences etc. It therefore recommended that educational stakeholders such as government, policy-makers, educational institutions, teachers and parents should develop and implement positive disciplinary policies that prioritize students’ well-being and safety.