Perceived Causes and Effects of Moral Decadence among Some Selected Senior High Schools in the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana

Abstract

This research investigated the perceived causes and effects of moral decadence among some selected senior high schools in the Kumasi Metropolis. A total of 321 respondents from three senior high schools in the metropolis of Kumasi were taken. Means and standard deviations were used when evaluating the study results. The results showed that the immoral problems experienced in the study area were exam malpractice, drug abuse, bullying, truancy and illicit sexual activities. The study also revealed that parental carelessness, peer influence, watching immoral films, unregulated media landscape where media content is not censored, and poverty were contributing to the causes of moral decadence. The research also showed the negative impact of moral decadence on senior high school students. The outcome also revealed that the steps to combat moral decadence were the establishment of rules and regulation, parental supervision and school counselling, school authorities to be of good moral, moral leadership and education. The study recommends the need for the schools to periodically organize seminars and workshops for teachers and students, vigorous counselling sessions should be held for the students and parents should be empowered through awareness creation on the dangers of irresponsible parenting.