THE CAUSES OF LATENESS TO SCHOOL AMONG PUPILS IN SOME SELECTED
PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN OREDO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, EDO STATE
ABSTRACT
This research work was carried out to examine the causes of lateness to schools among primary school pupils in some selected primary school, in Oredo local government area of Edo State. The purpose of the study was to find out how these problems have affected the pupils as individuals and the school system. In addition, the study was based on bringing suggestions and guidelines for handling lateness in the school. It was noted that lateness to school was based on so many causes such as bad weather, distance from school, overwork and heavy traffic. Finally, the problem of lateness to school is university noted to be very serious in schools. This can affect the fabric of the school system with far reaching consequences. Suggestions for solving the problems are recommended in order to ensure a smooth and convenient atmosphere for learning.
TABLE OF CONTENT
Chapter One
Introduction
Background of the study
Statement of the problem
Research question
Purpose of the study
Significance of the study
Basic assumption of the study
Scope of the study
Limitations of the study
Definition of terms
Chapter Two
Literature review
Chapter Three
Methodology
Population of the study
Sample and sampling techniques ‘research instrument
Procedure for data analysis
Chapter Four
Data analysis, interpretation and findings
Introduction
Data analysis
Chapter Five
Summary, conclusion and recommendations
Summary
Conclusion
Recommendations
References
Questionnaires
 CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND OF STUDY
          The Longman English Dictionary by A. W. Frisby defines lateness as after the proper time according to the world book dictionary by C. L. and R. K. Barahat “lateness is defined as happening, coming or developing after the usual or proper time. It goes further to define a latecomer as a person or group of people that arrive late. The nuttal dictionary of English synonym and antonyms defines lateness as delayed slow, tardy and overdue, behind. This be expressed briefly and clearly the oxford advanced learners dictionary defines lateness as being after the usual right fixed or expected time. In the research lateness in the school environment means delay in getting to school by students, teachers or any other administrative staffs. This is due to a factor or combustion of factors and can result into less time in subject period and general activities in the first hours of the day. When a child is punctual he has the opportunity or advantages of beginning the days work with the teacher and his class mates.
          A teacher who goes to his store late suffers the loss of morning sales while the farmer suffers the penalty of working under the sun, we find from these points that lateness is all its ramification does not favour any class or group of people especially in the school where you have limited time to be spent on each subject slated for the day. There is little or nothing to gain from lateness but punctuality has so many attributes such as setting up a standard for people to emulate. I know it is not an easy task to comply with but it is of great importance. It is commonly said that punctuality is the soul (root) of good business. What is worth doing is worth doing well.
STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS
          It is the observation of the researcher that some of the students in some selected primary school in Oredo local government area come very late to school. This lateness study is the problems associated with lateness among pupils in selected primary schools in Oredo local government pupils that comes to school late always have the problem of not starting the days work with the teacher and his classmates, the fear is already in his heart that the teacher will punish him for being late to school. Lateness to school does not only make the pupils not to start the days work with his classmates, but the situation will gradually retard the progress of such pupils in class work and even his attainment in the exam. Furthermore, lateness to school can make a pupil to be a latecomer in his life generally, in the sense that as the pupils grows with the habit of lateness it becomes part of him, which will affect him generally.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
          The following questions are formulated to guide the study.
1.            Is lateness to school caused by bad whether?
2.            Is lateness to school caused by their friends?
3.            Do students com late to school because their house is far from school?
4.            Do parental quarrel caused pupils to be late to school?
5.            Is pupil’s lateness caused by domestic activities?
6.            Is lateness due to teacher’s inability to enforce discipline in school?
 PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
          The purpose of this study is to examine the causes of lateness to school in some selected primary schools in Oredo local government area of Edo State. The aim is to ascertain the causes, effect and offer recommendation.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
          The study is an investigation into the cause’s problem of lateness to school and how this lateness can be avoided. There effects on the pupils teachers, parents and community as a whole. Lateness to school has effects on the pupils’ teachers, parents and community in the following ways.
          Students who go to school late will have the problem of not starting the days work with the teacher and his classmate. He comes with the fear in his heart that the teacher may punish him for being late to school. With all these in the latecomers heart, he is already upset and will not even be able to settle down to relieve the days lessons obviously the situation will gradually retard the progress, the child in class work and even  his attention in the examination.
          On the part of the teacher who goes to school always, one finds that he or she is not only showing bad example but also waste the pupils time. He or she ought to set a standard for the pupils to emulate. The parents are usually affected for instance it result to poor performance on the part of the pupils during examination parents are also responsible for pupils lateness to school. Charity begins at home ‘if the pupils were brought up to be punctual to wherever they are going to, consequently, they would continue even when they are grown” you should bring up a child in the way he should grow and when he is grown up, he will not depart from it so parents should bring up their children to be punctuality conscious in all functions. In our community, lateness is generally taken as one of the African way of life. African time even when they are late to a place or gathering they take it as one of those things. This has really entered deep into the marrow of their bones and therefore should be handled with all seriousness.