A quiet yet profound crisis is unfolding within Chad’s educational institutions. Across numerous schools, a noticeable decline in student discipline directly jeopardizes the foundational training of the nation’s future professionals and leaders. Addressing this pressing national concern necessitates a shared sense of responsibility among educational establishments, families, and the broader society.

Behaviors such as disrespectful conduct towards teachers, frequent altercations, excessive mobile phone use during class hours, damage to school property, and various acts of aggression, once rare, are now increasingly prevalent. This disturbing trend is a significant source of apprehension for educators, school administrators, and parents alike.

This troubling reality is no longer a secret. In many high schools and colleges, both in N’Djamena and across the country’s interior regions, academic instruction is routinely disrupted. Teachers report a tense atmosphere where maintaining student focus, order, and mutual respect often demands extraordinary effort. Faced with students who are increasingly resistant to authority, numerous education professionals feel ill-equipped, despite established internal regulations and disciplinary measures.

The family unit, however, remains the primary environment for a child’s socialization. It is within the home that children should first acquire respect for authority, an appreciation for hard work, self-discipline, and an understanding of boundaries. Michel Ngardiguina, a French teacher in a N’Djamena high school, observes, “Today, teaching has become increasingly challenging. Some students no longer tolerate feedback or the authority of their teachers. Sometimes, a simple reminder of the rules can provoke insults or aggressive reactions. Without parental involvement at home, schools alone cannot rectify all these behavioral issues.”

Amina Moussa, a parent encountered in Walia Barrière, N’Djamena, acknowledges, “Many parents are preoccupied with economic hardships and no longer adequately supervise their children. Mobile phones and social media exert immense influence on students today. We must re-engage in our educational role and enhance collaboration with teachers to safeguard our children’s future.”

Indeed, many parents, grappling with financial constraints, extensive family responsibilities, or a lack of time, completely delegate this crucial mission to the school system. Consequently, some students grow up without clear guidance. They find themselves vulnerable, lacking proper supervision, and exposed to external influences, particularly social media and negative peer groups, without being sufficiently educated on the vital importance of their own learning journey.

The school, on its own, cannot bear the entirety of this responsibility. Its role is undeniably critical in imparting knowledge and instilling values such as civic duty, discipline, and peaceful coexistence. Nevertheless, it often receives children who arrive in class with already weakened educational foundations.

When foundational values are not firmly established within the family, the school finds itself at the forefront of addressing behaviors that are difficult to correct. An education system undermined by persistent indiscipline is inevitably at risk of producing citizens poorly prepared for the demands of the contemporary world.

This situation now calls for a collective awakening. Neither schools nor parents can succeed in isolation. Close and consistent collaboration is imperative through several tangible initiatives:

• Strengthening student academic monitoring through regular meetings between parents and teachers;
• Establishing continuous dialogue with adolescents to better understand their challenges;
• Revitalizing parent-teacher associations;
• Launching widespread awareness campaigns on the significance of discipline and adherence to school rules.

The future of Chad is being shaped daily within its classrooms. For a nation aspiring to development, reinstating scholastic authority and reinforcing parental responsibility represent a national imperative. The time for mere observation has passed; concerted action is now essential.