EXPLORING THE LINK BETWEEN VERBAL ABUSE, ENGLISH LANGUAGE MISUSE, AND STRATEGIES FOR ADDRESSING STUDENT DELINQUENCY IN COLLEGES OF EDUCATION, KWARA STATE

Abstract

Colleges of Education in Kwara State are central to Nigeria’s teacher-training system, charged with preparing educators who can uphold discipline, professionalism, and effective communication. Yet growing student delinquency, including truancy, insubordination, and examination malpractice, threatens this mandate. While socio-economic pressures and weak family structures are often cited, this paper highlights two frequently overlooked drivers: verbal abuse and misuse of the English language. Persistent verbal aggression, such as insults, humiliation, or harsh criticism, erodes students’ self-esteem, fosters resentment, and undermines respect for authority. Simultaneously, careless English usage, marked by slang, profanity, and poor grammar, weakens academic seriousness and normalizes disrespectful interaction. When these factors intersect, they create a campus climate of hostility and emotional disengagement that fuels indiscipline. The implications extend beyond the colleges themselves: pre-service teachers who internalize hostile or careless communication are likely to replicate these behaviours in their own classrooms, perpetuating cycles of poor classroom management and low educational quality. To address this challenge, the paper recommends a multi-level response that includes compulsory communication and conflict-resolution training, English proficiency programmes, clear anti-abuse policies, integration of professional ethics into the curriculum, and strengthened counselling services. Peer-led language initiatives and regular institutional assessments are also advised to sustain respectful communication norms. By embedding these strategies, Colleges of Education can foster a culture of dignity, linguistic competence, and professional ethics, ensuring that future teachers model the respect and discipline essential for effective instruction and national educational development.