The Unheared Voice of Truant Students: Implications for School Leaders

Abstract

<jats:p>The objective of this study was to explore the possible factors, impacts and prevention mechanisms by school administrators of absenteeism among high school students in Yekatit 12 preparatory school of Addis Ababa City Administration. To achieve the objective of the study a qualitative approach was employed and data was collected from five students based on the number of days that they were absent from school. The main data collection methods employed were consultation of documents like the attendance sheet and records of the student on their absenteeism and in depth interview. Once the data was collected, it was transcribed and translated. Content analysis was used to find out the main themes emerging to answer the basic questions raised. Base on the analysis of the study, it was found out that substance abuse resulted from peer pressure; economic problems due to family separation and domestic chore burden were the main factors for students’ absenteeism. The impact of absenteeism was also found to be huge in decreasing academic performance and results of the students as they miss lectures, demonstrations and class activities which are going to be marked including tests and quizzes. Though teachers and school administrators support was mentioned, it was not found to be at the level which is required to fully understand and help them not to dropout from Scholl. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that the school has to put in place a strict control of drugs and alcohol inside the school premise, guidance and counseling service of the school to be strengthened and to try to engage NGOs and other partners to assist economically poor students.</jats:p>

Absent on Absenteeism: Academic Silence on Student Absenteeism in Canadian Education

“…The severity and far-reaching nature of the repercussions associated with absenteeism has evoked a worldwide response. The causes, consequences, and solutions to absenteeism have been taken up in the international academic literature, including in Africa (Manaze, 2019;Oghuvbu, 2008), Asia (Banerjee et al, 2012;Chou et al, 2006;Seçer & Ulas, 2020), Europe (Duarte & Escario, 2006;Mounteney et al, 2010;Strand & Cedersund, 2013), North America (Gottfried, 2009;Kearney, 2008), and South America (Fischer, 2013;Goodrich et al, 2017). In addition, the International Network for School Attendance (INSA) was established in 2018 to facilitate international dialogue on absenteeism.…”

Truancy as Predictor of Poor Academic Performance among Junior High School Students in Ashanti Mampong Municipality of Ghana

“…This eventually leads to a school climate in which each student is on his or her own. According to Manaze (2019), truants skip school because they do not feel safe in their educational environment. Furthermore, a student is penalized if he or she does not feel comfortable, secure, or safe and reasonably decides to skip school since another area is safer than the school.…”

“…According to Wang et al (2018), the number of students absent on a given school day is indicative of school disengagement and/or detachment. According to Manaze (2019), pupils who are disengaged from school, lack dedication to the school, are low performers, and have low goals for their futures.…”

“…The findings of this study resemble those of a number of other investigations. Indeed, the majority of the research found an unrestricted positive association between truancy and the school environment (Fareo, 2019;Manaze, 2019;Cross et al, 2018). For example, Manaze (2019) claims that truants miss school because they do not feel comfortable in their school environment.…”