Abstract

Managing the issues and challenges in education at the basic school level believed to be the

foundation on which other levels of education rest on will either promote or mar the onward

movement of individuals to the other levels of education and the achievement of the objective of

education as an instrument for national development.

The study seeks to assess the effect of absenteeism on student’s performance. The objectives of

the study were to identify the factors that causes students absenteeism, to examine the effect of

absenteeism on students’ performance in school and to devise an appropriate means necessary to

reduce student’s absenteeism.

Data was collected from 150 teachers, using purposive sampling. The data collection tool

employed was interview guide. The data was analysed using (SPSS version 20). The findings from

the analysis showed that students absenteeism have an impact or effect of performance. Based on

the factors that cause student absenteeism, the analysis concluded parent unemployed and not

valuing child education, child living in a geographically remote area, school environment not

conducive to student, student is bullied by teachers and peers in school, poor teacher student

relationship, society attitude toward girl child education, child labour to support family income,

Poor family or poor home and sickness and diseases.

Again, on the side of the effect of absenteeism on student performance, the study settled that an

increase in the value of one variable (student absenteeism) will cause an increase in the value of

the second variable (performance). Similarly, as one variable decreases in value, the second

variable also decreases in value. This is thus a positive correlation.

Also absenteeism affect students in the following ways jeopardize teaching learning environment,

poverty, perform poorly in academics, social development, less academic achievement, criminal

activity and display of various anti-social behaviour, delinquents and drop out and curriculum

requirement and instructional activities

On the aspect of devising an appropriate means necessary to reduce student’s absenteeism, the

study clinched that there should be an establishment of proper school building and environment,

cordial relationship between families, community and the school, raising awareness on the

importance of school attendance, provision of motivation by attendance, careful monitoring of

absenteeism in school, there should be student friendly way of learning and there should be teacher

student relationship in schools.

The research recommended that Schools should focus on increasing students’ commitment to

school in order to reduce student absenteeism. Strategies have to be adopted in direction to convey

message to students that the school considers them important as students as well as individuals.

Again, teachers must be trained on how to deal the students according to their psyche, in order to

meet their individual differences.

Families, guidance, and teacher must have good relationship with one another in the benefit of the

child and his future. School bureaucrats’ and teachers’ must have empathetic approaches to

students and this will yield positive attitudes that will facilitate students to feel connected to the

school. Pupils’ establishment of positive relationships with teachers will increase commitment to

the school and will play a role in the reduction of absenteeism.