Character formation among students: A panacea for youth restiveness

Abstract

The increase in crime wave and other vices such as armed robbery, cultism, examination malpractice, cheating, thuggery, youth restiveness, etc., among youths is an indicattion of poor character formation. One of the goals of the National Policy on Education is the inculcation of the right type of values and attitudes for the survival of the individual and the Nigerian society. This goal can not be achieved if stakeholders in the character formation of children do not live up to expectation. Social changes in the society demand that adequate attention be paid to childrens' character formation to enable them to cope with the complexities of the time. The home, the school, religious organizations and the government should join hands to ensure that the products of our schools are worthy of both character and learning. The school and the home should promote such values as honesty, faimess, respect for others, respect for life and property, hard work etc., in the students in order to promote peace and harmony in the society. Youth restiveness hampers the progress and development of any nation. Youths should be encouraged to be of good behaviour and vanguards of peace to avert the negative effects of youth restiveness on the country. No doubt, the society will be better off if youths are bequeathed with the right values.