.

Physical Factors
Among the items cited, the distance of their house to the school and the danger posed by walking to the
school has the same response average, or a mean of 1.04. This means that both are not reasons for them to
be absent from school.
B. Health
Fever/flu is the most common reason of students for being absent. It has the highest response average of 2.4.
It is followed by headache, with an average response of 1.67. Other diseases like diarrhea come in third with
1.61 average responses. The least common reason for them for being absent is stomach ache, with 1.39
averages.
C. Personal Attitude
That the student doesn’t wake up early enough is the most common reason why he/she is absent. This
account for 1.91 mean. Another reason commonly cited is that they can’t concentrate on their studies and that
they were not able to study their lessons. This resulted from 1.45 and 1.37 mean respectively. Feeling lazy
and playing computer games also keep them away from school. The former has a response average of 1.26
while the latter has 1.22.
D. Teacher-related
When the students are scolded for their bad behavior by the teacher, this tends to make them be absent from
their classes. It has the highest average response of 1.38 while the reason that they can’t understand their
lessons follow close behind with 1.32 mean.
E. Classroom Atmosphere
The highest mean of 1.77 was accorded to noise inside the classroom which means that this is the primary
reason why they tend to be truant. Bullying by fellow students follows with 1.39 response average.
F. Home-related
Students who say their parents asked them to be absent resulted in the highest mean of 1.52. Household
chores come second with a response average of 1.47. The other reasons ranged from 1.08 to 1.39, including
not having money to spend for snacks and other small expenses in school, no breakfast/food, and that their
parents quarreled.
The response average or the mean was computed by multiplying the percentage of responses by the
equivalent value of each frequency and then adding them all.

Absenteeism in school is the habit of staying away from school without providing a genuine or any reason for
not attending classes. Absenteeism is a truant behavior that negatively affects the performance among
students.

Frequency of Responses
Very
Always Often Sometimes Rarely Never
  (5) (4) (3) (2) (1)

A. Physical Factor          

1. Our house is far

from the school.

2. It is unsafe to go to
school.
 Very
Always Often Sometimes Rarely Never
  (5) (4) (3) (2) (1)

3. Nobody
accompanies me in
going to school since it
is far.

B. Health          

1. I have a toothache.

2. My stomach hurts.

3. I have a headache

4. I'm down with

fever/flu.

5. I have other
diseases like diarrhea,
etc.

C.Personal Attitude          

1. I am not interested
in my studies.

2. I feel lazy.

3. My friends influence
me to be absent from
my classes.

sssssss4. I can't
concentrate in my
studies.

5. I didn't wake up
early.

6. I did not study/make

my assignments the
night before.

7. I got fond of playing

computer games.

D. Teacher-Related
         
Factors

1. My teacher scolded
me.

2. I can't understand
my teacher's lessons.

3. I don't like my
teacher.

E. Classroom
         
atmosphere
 Very
Always Often Sometimes Rarely Never
  (5) (4) (3) (2) (1)

1.Our classroom is hot

and uncomfortable.

2. It's noisy inside our

classroom.

3. A
classmate/classmates
bully me.

4. I have no friends in
our class.

F. Home-Related
         
Factors

1. My parents ask me
to be absent from
class.

2. My parents
quarreled.

3. My parents don't
care about my studies.

4. I'm too pre-occupied

with household chores.

5. I have no money to
buy snacks in school.

6. We have no food/I
did not eat.

LOREN MURCIA
Causes of Absenteeism

Absenteeism is caused by many factors as such as:

1. Phobic Adolescence: During this stage in the growth of a teen, there is a lot of fear developed as a result
of physical changes of the body for example growth of pimples, turbulent emotions e.t.c. This scares teens
away from school.

2. Lack of Interest: Students could be lacking interest in the study, which could be as a result of content that
is difficult for them to grasp hence pushing them away from school.

3. Teacher approach: The approach used by teachers may not be understood by the student and this could
lead them to lose interest in school. Punitive attendance policy plays a big role in absenteeism too.

4. Pamperness from the family: Students who get excessive pocket money from their families are most likely
to absent themselves from school since they need time to spend the money.

5. Private Couching: Flexible private couching encouraged by some parents could drive a number of
students away from the conventional school timetable.

6. Diseases: Some diseases like asthma which requires attention and care as well as an environment that is
warm and not dusty could make students remain home.

7. School Infrastructural Facilities: Lack of libraries, sports facilities is a hindrance to attendance of school
among students.

8. Entertainment: Accessibility of entertainment facilities like cinemas could divert attention of some students
from school.

Absenteeism can lead to depression and also result in poor quality of education as a result of time lost while
being away from school. It could also lead to moral degradation that leads to drug abuse, early pregnancies
and unruly behavior.

Absenteeism can be remedied by providing adequate co-curricular activities to students. It could be curbed by
creating of clubs and societies to keep students busy when they are out of class. Schools should strive to have
up to date learning facilities like libraries as well as sporting facilities to make students enhance student
retention.

By Timothy Keter Community Relations Coordinator, Eneza Education Ltd.