Abstract:
This study has attempted to assess the causes and effects of moral decadence on secondary
and preparatory students in the case of secondary and preparatory schools in Estie woreda,
south Gondar Zone. Both qualitative and quantitative research approaches were used in this
study to collect the required data. The research design that was used for this study was a
descriptive study. 153 students were selected using lottery random sampling for quantitative
cases where as interview and focus group discussion participants were selected using
purposive sampling,, were employed to sect the samples. The collected data was also
analyzed by both quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques. The qualitative data
was interpreted thematically, while the quantitative data was interpreted quantitatively using
ratios and percentiles. The study finds that the level of moral decadence in Estie woreda
Secondary and preparatory School is high. Exam malpractice by students, drug and
substance abuse by students, occultism practiced by students, bullying of juniors by seniors,
truancy, and involvement of students in illicit sexual activities were common forms of moral
decadence in the schools. The result of the study showed that the careless attitude of parents,
peer influence, watching immoral films, and an unregulated media landscape where media
content is not censored were causes of students' moral decadence. The prevalence of moral
decadence among secondary school students should not be overlooked because moral
decadence among students could lead to students being traumatized, low academic
performance, school dropouts, and a reduction in the literate population. The establishment
of rules and regulations by head teachers; involvement of teachers and students in making
rules and regulations; parental supervision and school counseling; school authorities' being
of good morals and moral leadership; and education were the measures for curbing moral
decadence among senior high school students.
