Introduction

Absenteeism is major and continuous administrative problem among secondary school students in developing countries. Since the problem is to 70% student home based, there is need for the student/parent to help identify and proffer solutions to this quality disturbing problems that could lead to students’ dropout from school.

Ubogu (2004:25) identified illness, permitted leave, voluntary absenteeism, as common forms of absenteeism. Identified causes of absenteeism include: illness, financial hardship, age, social class, geographical area, truancy and institutional influence. School related factors, such as; teachers’ attitude, poor administration, high cost of education, illness due to weather condition such as cold, temperature grey days causes absenteeism among students. Harsh school rules and regulations could cause absenteeism i.e. corporal punishment; families where children prepare themselves for school and parent to work. Truancy among students is caused by school-related reasons. Bullied by school staff, boredom, dislike of teachers and avoidance of tests. These are without parents’ knowledge (Susan Kirk 2003). School authorities authorized absence for ailments, medical and death in the family. Parent particularly in rural areas keep their children at home for domestic activities on market and community festival days .In crises areas, student absence from school for safety reasons.

Unaccepted absence had a negative effect on peer relationship, which could cause absence. According to Malcolm, Wilson, Davidson and Kirk (2003) teachers identified effects of absenteeism on children are; academic underachievement which increases costs and wastage, difficulty in making friends which could lead to boredom, loss of confidence and engagement in premature sexual activity which could lead to pregnancy resulting in dropout and stress among young careers.

The society suffers as the children of school age hang around in the streets, intimidating other people and stealing properties of those who are in school and other place of work.

Absenteeism and lateness could be reduced by providing; free education, counseling, discipline relevant curriculum and social welfare seminal to students’ .The use of electronic registration systems, truancy sweeps, contact with parents, and support for pupils with poor attendance and effective school administration by principals. (Davidson et al 2003) (Ubogun 2004: 160).

Absenteeism could results into poor academic achievement, lost of friends and partners, disruption in class when absentees return affect the behavior of other students, difficulty in keeping accurate records, reduced ability to meet instructional targets and damaged school reputation. For school community positive relationship to commune in the administration of secondary schools, there is need to identify causes of absenteeism and lateness among secondary schools in Nigeria (Oghuvbu 2002).

 

Lateness is common among female students than male students. This is as a result of their involvement in domestic activities by their parent. Distance to school, school discipline, family background and school location are among causes of lateness among secondary school students (Emore 2005).

 

Statement of Problem

Achievement of the goals of secondary education largely depends in the positive dedication to academic work by students and instructional performance of teachers. The continuous existence of the problem of poor academic performance in external examinations, dropout, absenteeism, lateness, and drug abuse among secondary school students is a major task facing educational Administrators. Presently, statistics showed a good percentage increase in the number of quality teachers in secondary schools in Nigeria. Criminal records also revealed that most of those involved are either dropouts or students on school uniform but divert from school for other criminal activities. From the experience of the researcher as a secondary school Mathematics teacher, 70% of students involved in continuous absenteeism dropout of school. Also lateness leads to absenteeism. Analytically, the problem of lateness leads to absenteeism, which results in dropout. These unending problems of dropout, poor academic performance and increase in youth involvement in crimes call for the following questions. What are the causes of absenteeism and lateness among secondary school students in Nigeria?

 

Research Questions

The following research questions were raised and answered

1. What are the causes of absenteeism among secondary school students in Nigeria?

2. What are the causes of lateness among secondary students in Nigeria?

3. Is there any relationship between causes of lateness and absenteeism among secondary school students?

4. What are the possible solutions to the problems of absenteeism and lateness among secondary school students?

Hypothesis

The following hypothesis were formulated and tested

1. There is no significant difference between the mean perception scores of principals, teachers, parents and students on the identified causes of absenteeism among secondary school students in Nigeria.

2. There is no significant difference between the mean perception scores of principals, teachers, parents and students on the identified causes of lateness among secondary school students in Nigeria.

3. There is no significant difference between the mean perception scores of principals, teachers, parents and students on the identified solutions to the problems of absenteeism among secondary school students in Nigeria.

4. School location does not significantly influence the mean perception scores of principals, teachers, parents and students on the identified causes of absenteeism and lateness among secondary school students in Nigeria.

5. Gender does not significantly influence the mean perception scores of principals, teachers, parents, and students on identified causes of absenteeism and lateness among secondary school students in Nigeria.

 

Methods and Procedure

The design of this study was a descriptive research. Independent variables were identified causes lateness and absenteeism; and dependent variables were possible solutions to the causes of absenteeism and lateness among secondary school in Nigeria.

 

Population and Sample

The six thousand, nine hundred and forty- four (6,944) secondary school principals, one hundred and ninety –three thousand, three hundred and forty- eight (193,348) teachers, all students and their parents in the thirty-six states that made up the Federal Republic of Nigeria during the 2005/2006 academic session constitute the target population of their study.

A sample of 17,417 respondents made up of 432 principals, 5760 teachers 5760 parents and 5760 secondary school students was drawn using the stratified and cluster sampling techniques to select eighteen (18) states, three (3) from each of the six (6) geopolitical zones that made up the thirty six (36) states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, four hundred and thirty two (432) secondary school from each selected state made up twenty schools from each State used in this study.

The sample was made up of 3456 each of female teachers, parents and students (10368), 2204 each of male teachers, male parents and male students (6612) with 78408 (45%) rural, semi-urban 4356 (25%) and 52272 (30%) Urban teachers. Only teachers with five years and above teaching experience and Senior Secondary Students were used this study.

The instrument for data collection was a thirty items questionnaire patterned after four likert point scale. The instrument was first administered on 50 each of a set of teachers, parent, students and 20 principals within an interval of two weeks. The result of this test re-test reliability was 0.75. This was also a measure of interval constituency of the instrument. Hence the coefficient of 0.75 is indications of strong inter items relationship and validity of the instrument. Descriptive statistics, percentage was used to identify principals, teachers, parents and students perceptions on the causes and possible solutions to the problem of absenteeism and lateness among secondary school students in Nigeria.

The parametric statistics product involved correlation coefficient and analysis of variance was used in the analysis of the research questions and five hypotheses.

 

Collection of Data

Each subject was scored on the basis of his/her responses to the statement scoring was done in order of strongly agree (SA) 4, Agreed (A) 3, Disagree (D) 2, and strongly disagreed (SD) 1.

 

 

 

Results

Research Question 1: What are the causes of absenteeism among secondary school students in Nigeria?

Table 1. Identified causes of Absenteeism among secondary school students in Nigeria.

S/N	ITEMS	PRINCIPALS		TEACHERS		PARENT		STUDENTS		Total		Grand Total
		Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female
		Score %	Score %	Score %	Score %	Score %	Score %	Score %	Score %	Males	Female
1	Parent engagement of students at home	799 77	495 72	6423 72	10389 75	6422 73	6537 47	5454 62	7168 52	19098 69	24589 58	43638 62
2	Cultural activities market or festival days	618 60	436 63	5781 66	10326 75	3356 38	6359 46	5163 59	8693 63	14918 54	25814 61	40735 58
3	When they don’t offer subject on the time-table for the day	683 66	460 66	4635 53	9223 67	5651 64	6142 44	5440 62	8565 62	1409 60	24390 58	40799 59
4	Parent poor financial condition non provision of instructional facilities.	649 63	545 79	5800 66	10472 76	5625 64	6745 49	5759 65	10325 75	17833 65	28087 67	45920 66
5	Teachers non-commitment to the teaching of their subjects	650 63	508 73	4999 57	9369 68	5210 59	10092 73	5160 59	8597 62	16019 58	28566 68	44585 64
6	Poor health condition	730 70	501 72	6436 73	10875 79	5378 61	10506 76	5716 65	9152 66	18260 67	3103 74	4929 71
7	Lack of food	626 60	421 61	5063 57	8938 65	4875 55	9266 67	4769 54	7168 52	15333 56	25793 61	4112 59
8	Involvement in drug misuse	601 58	406 59	5258 60	9306 67	5572 63	6913 50	4206 48	7904 57	15637 57	24529 58	40166 58
9	To avoid corporal punishment by senior students	621 60	438 63	5592 63	9677 70	5272 60	6100 44	5224 59	8064 58	16709 61	24279 58	40993 59
10	Involvement in commercial activities on school days	655 63	448 65	5548 63	10484 76	5422 62	6496 47	5290 60	9408 68	16915 62	26836 64	43751 63
11	Lack of transportation	713 69	495 72	5283 60	9875 71	5439 62	10094 73	5013 57	9419 68	16448 60	29883 71	46331 67
12	Inadequate accommodation for private reading in school –no library facilities	552 53	457 66	4540 52	8710 63	5122 58	9304 67	4661 53	8427 61	14875 61	14875 54	41773 60
13	To avoid corporal punishment by teachers	557 54	480 69	5285 60	8446 61	5052 57	8709 63	4835 55	8853 64	15729 57	26488 63	42217 61
	Total	8454 57.9	6090 67.7	70643 61.7	126090 70.2	68396 59.7	103263 57.4	66690 58.3	137739 62.2	214183 60.5	373182 62.7	587365 57.6

Question 2: What are the causes of lateness among Secondary School Students in Nigeria?

Table 2: Identified Causes of Lateness among Secondary School Students in Nigeria

S/N	ITEMS	PRINCIPALS		TEACHERS		PARENT		STUDENTS		TOTAL		GRAND TOTAL
		Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female
		Score %	Score %	Score %	Score %	Score %	Score %	Score %	Score %	Male	Female
1	Going late to bed because of watching films and home night movies	594 85	869 84	7261 83	1170 86	6348 72	10783 78	5788 67	10795 78	20266 77.3	33942 81	54408 79.2
2	Wake up late in the night	590 85	849 82	6625 76	1170 85	1851 84	11197 81	5698 65	11059 80	11356 77.5	34616 82	49639 79.8
3	Parent engagement in domestic activities in the morning	524 76	710 69	3759 43	10576 77	1635 74	10368 75	5252 60	9237 67	11356 63.3	30705 72	42061 67.6
4	Distance to school	521 75	700 68	6611 64	10403 75	1829 83	11059 80	5482 62	9995 72	14622 71	313975 73.8	46600 72.4
5	Walking to school	453 65	582 56	3438 40	9674 70	1433 65	11750 85	5290 60	9504 69	10743 57.5	31381 70	42124 63.8
6	Traffic problems on way to school	465 67	608 59	6673 63	8071 58	4320 49	6221 45	5191 59	9120 66	16792 59.5	23877 57	40660 58.3
7	Avoiding morning assignments by senior students	469 68	610 59	5176 59	9681 70	4761 54	8986 65	6189 70	8779 64	16736 62.8	27915 64.5	44651 63.7
8	Avoiding punishment during assembly by teachers	445 64	638 62	5516 63	9084 66	5554 63	6246 45	5006 57	8981 65	16714 61.8	24756 59.5	41470 60.7
9	Most teachers come late to school	437 63	613 59	5283 60	5301 60	5301 60	10230 74	4891 55	8427 61	16088 59.5	28185 63.5	44273 61.5
10	Keeping friends who are not students	476 69	555 54	6057 69	9514 69	4937 56	10783 78	5240 59	8811 64	16789 63.3	29584 66.3	46373
	Total	4974 71.6	6734 73.8	56399 62.3	99634 7.13	37969 66.	97623 70	54227 57.1	94708 68.6	151462	578936	452259 65

Research Question 3

Is there any relationship between causes of lateness and absenteeism among secondary school students in Nigeria?

Table 3: Summary of Pearson r on the Relationship between Causes of Lateness and Absenteeism among Secondary School Students in Nigeria.

Variables	N	Summation	Sum of Squares	∑ AL	Cal r	Cor. of Determination
Relationship	17,412	A =43,9,628   L =1,801,673,478	1,901,512,422   1,801,673,478	326,858,989	0.1715	2.94

 

Since calculated r = +0.1715 and coefficient of determination of 2.94, it revealed a weak positive corrective. Then coefficient of determination (2.94) showed that only 2.94% of the causes of lateness influence the causes of absenteeism. Hence there is no significant relationship between causes of absenteeism and lateness among secondary school students in Nigeria.

 

 

 

Question 4: What are the Possible Solutions to the Problems of Lateness and Absenteeism among Secondary School Students?

Table 4: Identified Possible Solutions to the Problems of Lateness and Absenteeism among Secondary School Students in Nigeria.

S/N	ITEMS	PRINCIPALS		TEACHERS		PARENT		STUDENTS		TOTAL		GRAND TOTAL
		Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female
		score %	Score %	Score %	Score %	Score %	Score %	score %	Score %	Male	Female
1	Corporal punishment should be given to students involved	657 63	522 75	6688 76	12145 88	6092 69	9244 67	6023 68	12352 89	19460 71	34263 81	53723 77
2	Parents should not disturb their children from going school	638 62	499 72	6492 74	12138 88	6303 72	9972 72	6124 69	11541 83	19551 71	34150 81	53707 77
3	Students should attend schools close to their homes	597 58	467 63	6278 71	10715 78	5704 65	8786 64	5538 63	10283 74	18117 66	30221 72	48338 69
4	More boarding schools should be established by government and private individuals.	611 59	511 74	5850 66	12242 89	5863 67	8640 63	5782 66	10645 77	18106 66	32038 76	50144 72
5	Teachers should provide students with instructional materials	664 64	544 79	6448 73	12623 91	6647 75	10888 79	6298 71	11712 85	20057 73	35767 85	55824 80
6	Parents should provide students with instructional materials	673 65	524 76	6310 72	12249 89	6277 71	9743 70	6152 70	11488 83	19412 71	34004 81	53416 77
7	School heads and community members should supervise students activities at home and between the home and school	607 59	510 74	6052 69	11666 84	6118 69	8765 63	5834 66	10720 77	18611 68	31661 75	50272 72
8	Library facilities should be provide in secondary schools	660 64	505 73	6732 76		6550 74	10535 76	6110 69	11659 84	20052 73	34795 83	54415 78
9	Activities of senior students and junior students should be supervised by teachers	678 65	529 76	7286 83	87	6480 74	10181 74	6138 70	11637 84	20582 75	34429 82	55011 79
10	Teachers involved in immoral affairs with students should be dismissed	706 68	547 79	6921 79	12478 90	6550 74	10909 79	6396 73	11339 82	20573 75	35273 67	49946 72
11	Those involved in the selling of bad drugs and immoral films should be persecuted	659 64	548 79	6171 70	12533 91	6515 74	9556 69	6223 71	10304 75	19568 71	32941 78	52509 75
12	Parent should check their children in school regularly	614 59	578 84	6259 71	12866 93	6339 72	10514 76	6490 74	10528 76	19702 72	34486 82	54188 78
	Total	7764 62	6252 75	77487 73	145833 88	75438 71	117733 71	73108 69	114208 69	233797 71	404028 80	581983 70

TOTAL: 581983 70%, Grand Total Maximum = 835,776 i.e. 69,648x 12 Item Maximum = 69,648 i.e. 17412 x 4