By Akinnodi Francis,Ondo

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The rise in social vices currently bedeviling the nation can best be tackled in schools and in homes.

This was the submission of a Catholic Priest, Rev. Fr.Nathaniel Agboh during a Sunday Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church,Ondo.

He said “Parents have a role to play, schools also have a role to play. School discipline must be revisited. There is no beauty in a child without discipline.”

The clergy man said social vices refer to immoral and unhealthy habits that negatively impact society and relationships.

“Things like bullying, drug abuse, cultism, and examination malpractice are common examples. These vices are learned behaviors that start during adolescence when young people struggle to find their identity and purpose.”

According to him, social vices or deviant behavior can be caused by poverty, mental illness, learned behaviors, inherited traits, broken home; which caused by complex interactions of psychological, sociological, economic and biological forces that encourage individuals to rebel against societal norms.

Fr. Agboh said to combat social vices in our society, a multifaceted approach is needed,which includes strengthening education, promoting ethical leadership, addressing economic inequalities, and empowering communities through counseling and community engagement.

He urged governments at all levels to invest in and promote education; implementing effective monitoring and supervision, and providing counseling and rehabilitation services.