EFFECTS OF INATTENTION OF PUPILS IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN IDEMILI NORTH LGA OF ANAMBRA STATE

EFFECTS OF INATTENTION OF PUPILS IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN IDEMILI NORTH LGA OF ANAMBRA STATE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

• Background of the Study

Inattention in early childhood has been linked to a wide range of behavioral and social problems including poor academic achievement (Connors et al, 2012). Inattention is, however, a multidimensional concept, which reflects impairment of sustained and focused attention, impaired working memory, distractibility, forgetfulness, as well as impaired ability to organize and plan activities and tasks (Astri et al, 2017).During adolescence individuals confront many psychological, physical and emotional problems that inhibit their learning and affect their academic achievement (Syed &Saadia, 2015).

Inattention is one of the significant factors that can affect the academic achievement of pupils. Findings from research on student learning in classroom settings indicate that attentive  behaviors are directly related to achievement outcomes (Kenneth, 1994). Also, evidence from studies investigating the impact of maladaptive student  behaviors provide growing support for the importance of  inattentiveness as a major factor having negative effects on student  achievement (ibid, 1994).Pupils whose behaviors are regarded as  inattentive, disruptive or maladjusted have been shown to be at risk of  poor educational attainment (Keller, al., 1992).

Moreover, in  addition to the consequences for an individual, such behaviour problems  in the classroom diminish educational opportunities for other pupils  and contribute to teacher stress (Kenneth, 1994).Thus, primary school teachers’ play an important role in detecting and helping a child strugglingwith inattention . They observe their pupils on a regular basis and in a wide range of situationwere inattention tends to have negative effects on performance (Sued &Saadia, 2015).

This study therefore intends to examine the Effects of inattention of pupils in primary schools in Idemili North LGA of Anambra State.

• Statement of Problem

Education is a critical tool for the transformation of the individual and the nation at large. For the individual to be able to live a useful life in his society and contribute towards the social, economic and political development of the nation, the relevant skills, values, attitudes, knowledge and competencies must be impacted (Asiyai, 2012). Even though education is good and recommended for every child, there are hurdles that do exist which need to be overcome. Most of these problems are inevitable, however, the ability to manage these problems as and when they come is the key to a successful living and learning.

One of such problems is pupils inability to be attentive, which may be as a result of health, social and cultural factors. Generally pupils with  inattention problems in schools most times present negative behaviors that impinge on their learning and often their social development. Most common behavior problems that occurred are noncompliance, aggressive behaviour that physically harms others, disruptive, nuisance or threatening behaviour to others. They possess characteristics which include aggressive or anti-socialbehaviour, inattentiveness, distractibility and impulsiveness, impaired social interactions, general inability to cope with the routine of daily tasks, obsessive and repetitive behaviours; attention –seeking behaviours such as negative interactions or a poor attitude towards learning, peers or teachers and depressed behaviours such as withdrawal, anxiety or mood swings (signposts,2009).

It appeared that various studies which have been conducted on students’ problems have looked at the problems students cause but very few have focused on problems students’ face in learning( Lundy & Firebaugh, 2005; Porter, Johnson, & Petrillo, 2009). Most of the studies that were able to examine students’ problems also either investigated a single problem, or were not in relation to academic performance at all. This study therefore seeks to examine the Effects of inattention of pupils in primary schools in Idemili North LGA of Anambra State.

• Objective of the Study

The general objective of this study is to examine the effects of inattention of pupils in primary schools in Idemili North LGA of Anambra State. The specific objectives include:

1. Find out the levels of attention of the primary school pupils in Idemili North LGA of Anambra State.
2. Assess the impact of the levels of inattention on the academic achievementIdemili North LGA of Anambra State.
3. Find out the relationship between the levels of inattention and the academic achievement of primary school pupils in Idemili North LGA of Anambra State.
   • Research Questions

The research questions for this work include:

• What is the level of attention of the primary school pupils in Idemili North  LGA of Anambra State?
• What is the impact of the levels of inattention on the academic achievement Idemili North LGA of Anambra State?
• What is the relationship between the levels of inattention and the academic achievement of primary school pupils in Idemili North LGA of Anambra State?
  • Hypothesis

The research hypothesis for this study:

• There is no significant impact of the levels of attention on pupil’s academic achievement.
• There is a significant impact of the levels of attention on pupils academic achievement.
  • Significance of the Study

This study has the inherent ability of providing up-to-date information on problems students face. Thus, it would fill in the gap when it comes to data on the causes of inattention among primary school pupils. Additionally, it would further help inform counsellors on some of the possible problems influencing pupils academic achievement. It would also serve as a blue print for the government (Ministry of Education)  to use in

managing and possibly minimising most of these problems among pupils on the role of various problems on academic performance.

• Scope of the Study

This study was carried out on Idemili North LGA of Anambra State. The target population comprised selected primary school pupils in the area.

1.8 Organization of Report

The repot has been organized into six chapters. Chapter one deals with introduction, chapter two with literature review, chapter three deals with study designs and method. Chapter four looks at the result, chapter five with discussion and lastly chapter six give conclusion and recommendation.

EFFECTS OF INATTENTION OF PUPILS IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN IDEMILI NORTH LGA OF ANAMBRA STATE