Ferdinand N. Kamati
It is miraculous to discover the youth of these days are morally bankrupt. Our society has observed a massive worsening in its moral, social and educational values, particularly among the youth.
Nevertheless, the issue of moral decadence in our society has become a very contentious matter because society appeared not to know the difference between what is morally right and wrong.
This had resulted in the escalation of crime in our society.
Literature defines moral decadence as the extreme negligent, unruly, wrongdoing, devastating, unfair and non-adhering attitudes of individuals in a certain society.
The issue of moral decadence has become a global concern because it impacts the youth, who are regarded as the light and foundation on which the future generation is built.
Our society, which is supposed to serve as a place for moral formation, has become a ground for escalating moral decadence.
Culture and morals that have been generated and held in high esteem instantaneously become a less valued approach to life among youth.
Moral decadence has been disregarded, leading to a poor breed of youth in our society.
The youth are getting involved in immorality, capable of destroying their future.
Moral decadence ranges from alcohol and drug abuse, rape, sexual harassment, indecent dressing, corruption, sexual promiscuity, gender-based violence, insubordination and disrespect to a constituted authority and the rules of law.
All these immoral behaviour possibly contribute to diminishing economic and educational standards, resulting in the importation of strange social behaviours into our society.
This, in turn, has gone deep into the lifestyle of men and women in society, thereby generating anxiety, unpatriotic feelings, conflict, lack of faith in the development and progress of the country, mistrust towards leaders and unguided conduct in the mind of the ones with a conscience, who would have loved to maintain high moral standards.
Those who gain from those immoral approaches desire them to remain. For that reason, there is a need for appropriate orientation to be given to the young ones for a better future.
Moral decadence seems to be a collapse in the moral standard of the society and a signal of weakening in keeping our societal values, beliefs, norms and ethical standards.
Immorality has become more common among the youth and children in Namibian society.
Cultural background, poverty, westernisation and urbanisation contribute enormously to moral decadence in our society.
The causes of moral decadence among our youths are categorised into four factors: (1) social factors, which include peer pressure and an unstable home environment, (2) economic factors i.e poverty, (3) cognitive factors, which include the need for belonging among the youth, driven by physical and psychological needs, and (4) technological factors, which include media and internet.
Our society had a high sense of respect, determination and admiration in the past.
Today, the sense of wonderment, respect, determination and amazement is steadily diminishing.
This is obvious to say the youth is doing things carelessly and inconsiderately.
There is no doubt that things are falling apart; many people behave as if there is no need for decorum and conscientiousness for things that matter.
Likewise, school authorities have endeavoured to tackle the moral dimensions of schooling – but still, there is no sign of a decline in immoral practices among students.
Despite the efforts made by the education ministry to handle indiscipline in public schools through guidance and counselling on the subject of life skills, indiscipline of a diverse nature continued in the schools with a new dimension.
The students have shown an upsurge in moral decadence due to exposure to social media, TV, bad peer pressure and poor parenting upbringing. Of current, youth are often seen to engage in excessive bullying; alcohol and drug abuse, and this had been shown to have a significant impact on their socio-emotional well-being.
The society we live in is morally sightless, worsened and dead.
The issue of moral decadence has become debatable, as society has lost a sense of morality.
However, the level of porosity and erosion of morality in our society is disheartening and unfortunate.
The worse is the youth who are the leaders of tomorrow are the most hit by this evil.
The importation of western culture into the African traditional education has contributed to the prevailing moral decadence in our society and has resulted in a prompt alteration in social norms.
Behaviour that is deemed wrong in the traditional society is currently tolerated and even acknowledged.
The question remains, will the country ever reach vision 2030 in terms of socio-economic development if we remain in the pool of moral decadence?
Moral decadence constitutes a substantial impediment to sustainable economic development in the country.
Development is impossible without upright men and women, whose consciences are finely attuned to the requirements of the common good.
This is a strong signal that there is an urgent need for moral regeneration and the promotion and practices of virtues by citizens for the country to achieve authentic and meaningful economic sustainability to cater for its teeming population.
Scholars such as Oloidi (2014) pointed out that moral degeneration has very disastrous socio-economic implications for the country and its citizens.
The moral dimensions of human development are the indispensable factors that control the other economic, social, cultural and political aspects.
It is for this reason that integral human development is a panacea.
The integral human development underscores the promotion of moral virtues and principles like justice, truthfulness, integrity, accountability and transparency as well as character formation in virtue-building to militate against such vices as manifested in moral decadence.
Although people and societies have material needs, however, authentic human prosperity and well-being require the development of the spiritual, moral, social, cultural and political dimensions.
Indeed, corruption, as a single moral decadence factor, has retarded social development, undermined economic growth, discouraged foreign investment and reduced the resources available for infrastructural development, public service and poverty reduction programmes.
The unpleasant situation is that it can prevent citizens from enjoying the benefit of the nation’s rich human and natural resources.
As moral beings, humans have a very high capacity to do good or evil, and build or to destroy. The difference is in the choice we make, which touches the core of our being and controls the social, political and economic dimensions of development.
Notwithstanding government’s effort at upholding moral decency in citizens, the society has remained morally decayed.
Thus, there is a need to re-orientate the entire populace parents, youths and children to have a new focus.
Parents should train and educate their children on the need for proper moral conscience to regain a sense of moral judgment.
Religious groups should reinstate faith, confidence and moral uprightness in society.
The school system must not only instil discipline in the students and teachers through counselling but morality must be integrated into the curriculum for maximum impact.
Henceforth, the inclusion of moral education as a promotional subject in schools, encouragement of self-control, sufficient home training, ample guidance as well as counselling and rehabilitation services can offer solutions to moral decadence in our society.
* Ferdinand N. Kamati is a PhD scholar, motivational speaker and academic researcher. Reach him at ferdinandkamati@yahoo.com