CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.8     BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Ever since the “hitherto” days of modern science in ancient Egypt in 1687, it has been made known that there are 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour, 1440 minutes in a day, 24 hours in a day, 168 hours in a week and 525, 600 minutes in a year. While majority of people confess faltering to come to grips with it, only a few can claim to have most use of it. The question is how this concept affects students in higher institutions of today and its effects on their academic performance.

The success and effective performance of academic activities by most students, especially the students of Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic Bori, has been made possible because they figured how to manage their time effectively.

One truthful fact with time is that we all have equal right to it as long as we breathe. Hence, nepotism, sectionalism and favoritism are inoperative with regards to time. There is a need for student to know that the difference between success and failure in academics is “time”.

Time is a unique resource you cannot rent, hire, buy or otherwise obtain more time. Its supply is fixed both on the short and long run. As a student, you ought to work yourself which activity is more important and how much time should be allocated to it. You should know which should be done earlier and which can be later.

Time management is self-management with an explicit focus on time in deciding what to do. Working without goals and targets as a student is similar to situation where the captain of the ship losses his way in the sea. A student should get or set targets for himself and ensure that they are realistic ones.

Orgawal (2008) asserts that time management is usually a personal problem and if one instinctively knows what the right thing is, then there is no need to worry. Daily life is not actually a gamble and allocating time to every activity will help unlike other things, time lost never comes back.

This study will therefore, examine time management required of students in the department of office technology and management and its effect on students in their performance of their academic activities.

1.9     STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Some observed problems in certain areas in the academic activities of students may owe their causes largely to time management. This is when the students do not manage their time properly. They may not come or may delay in coming to school. There may be delay in planning for academic activities postponement of time to do assignment and reading for tests and examination. They may be facing interruptions during the lecture hours like receiving lengthy calls, pinging, social networking and mingling with friends during lecture hours. These have some influence on some areas of academic activities especially in the academic performance.

Upon these backdrops, this study will investigate time management among students and its effect on their academic performance. A case study of Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori.

1.10   PURPOSE OF THE STUDY

The major rationale of this study is to determine the relevance of time management on students’ academic performance. This study will specifically seek to determine the following;

1. To examine the importance of time management skills required of a student.
2. To x-ray how time management can influence the goals and priorities of a student.
3. To determine how effective time management does affects the success and performance of academic activities.
4. To know how time management leads to the requisite qualification of a student in the department of Office Technology and Management.

1.11   SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This study will be beneficial as it creates awareness and equip students with the need to manage time effectively both in their academic activities, leisure’s time and personal life, which could either negatively or positively affect the academic performance of a student.

This study will also be beneficial to other professions such as; Office Managers, Secretaries, Lawyers, doctors etc. and it will also be beneficial to the government, institutions, organizations and also individuals on how they could manage and overcome time thieves.

1.12   RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following questions will help generate data in finding out the relevance of time management among students in the department of Office Technology and Management.

1. What are the importance of time management skill required of a student?
2. How can time management influence the goals and priorities of a student?
3. How can effective time management affects the success and performance of academic activities?
4. How does time management leads to the requisite qualification of a student in the department of Office Technology and Management?

1.13   SCOPE OF TH E STUDY

This study is confined to the selected department of office technology and management in Ken Saro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori. The reason being that the concept embedded in the research topic depicts, KenSaro-Wiwa Polytechnic, Bori. The reason being that the concept embedded in the research topic depicts,” Time Management among students in the department of Office Technology and Management”

1.14   DEFINITION OF TERMS

The following terms, the researcher perceives with help readers understand the study better.

Time: Something measured in seconds, minutes, hours and days.

Skills:         The ability an individual should have or possess.

Management:        The process of organizing, controlling and directing activities, events, people or things.

Hitherto:               In the past or in the beginning.

Sought:       Something wanted by many or something that ought to be done.

Relevance:  Something closely connected with the situation under discussion

To-do-list:   A list of items of activities of things that one has to do at a time.

Schedule:    A plan for performing work or achieving an objective.

Delegation: The practice of turning over work related task or authority to one self, somebody or sub-ordinates.

Effective:    The result or outcome of a cause or something.

Mar:            To spoil or damage something.

Prioritize:    To arrange or list a group of things in order of importance.

Performance:        The act of doing or executing a task or something.