Pupils’ perceptions of the moral atmosphere in some secondary schools in Harare, Zimbabwe

Abstract

The present study investigated pupils’ perceptions of the moral atmosphere in their schools. Precisely the study aimed at exploring how pupils perceive the moral climate and moral standards in their schools and how these perceptions impact on their behaviour in and around the school. A survey questionnaire, supplemented by follow-up interviews, was conducted on 100 Form IV pupils randomly drawn from 2 Government Secondary Schools in Harare’s high density suburbs. Overall, the study established that the majority of pupils are bitter about the negative moral atmosphere prevailing in schools. Many of the pupils called for the sanitisation of school environments if parents, pupils and other stakeholders are to continue having confidence in the schooling system. The study recommends that heads of schools and the Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture should ensure that the moral atmosphere in schools should be supportive of pupils’ learning and should always remind pupils that they are in a place of learning. The way many pupils dress and conduct themselves need to be closely monitored.