i

“FACTORS AFFECTING ABSENTEEISM AMONG GRADE 7 STUDENTS OF

POLONULING NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL (S.Y. 2023-2024): BASIS FOR
SCHOOL INITIATED INTERVENTIONS”.

An Action Research

In Partial Fulfilment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Bachelor of Secondary Education
Major in English

by

(JESSERIE L. SALVADOR)
Author

and

(MARY JOANCERINE ANN COLASITO, RN. LPT.)

Co-Author

December 2023
 ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page
TITLE PAGE…………………………………………………………………. i
TABLE OF CONTENTS…………………………………………………….. ii

CHAPTER
I INTRODUCTION
The Problem and Its Setting………………………….. 1

II METHODOLOGY
Research Design……………………………………….. 4
Research Locale........................................................ 4
Respondents of the Study…………………………….. 5
Data Gathering Procedure…………………………….. 6
Data Analysis…………………………………………… 6
Ethical Considerations…………………………………. 7

REFERENCES………………………………………………………………. 9
 1

Chapter I
INTRODUCTION

The Problem and Its Setting

One of the most frustrating situations to most educators and classroom
teachers is when they try so hard to provide the education that students need
but these students are always absent. Teachers prepare lesson plans,
colorful instructional materials and all other things that will help the students
learn conducively but sadly, some of the students are always either tardy or
absent. In present times, there is a difficulty in achieving perfect attendance
because no matter how interesting and well-prepared teaching materials are,
there are students who are likely to miss out on the day’s activities- willingly
or unwillingly. Absenteeism also affects the teacher’s ability to present
classes in a sequential and organized way. This can have an effect on the
progress of all the students in class. Moreover, the teacher will have a limited
time to be in contact with students with difficulty in their lessons because most
of them may be absent.

Going to school regularly is crucial and important for a student’s

education and social skills. Students who are frequently absent are a
disadvantage both socially and academically. They miss out on critical stages
of social interaction and development with peers, and at the same time
limiting their academic progress. This may result in low self-esteem, social
isolation, and dissatisfaction that could hasten non-attendance in the first
place.
 2

School absenteeism is an alarming problem not only for School

Administrators, teachers and parents but also to society in general.
Unaccepted absences have a negative effect on peer relationships, which
can cause further absences. According to Malcolm, Wilson, Davidson and
Kirk (2003) teachers identified the effects of absenteeism on children as:
• Academic under-achievement.
• Difficulty in making friends which could lead to boredom and loss of
confidence.
• Prolonged absence can have deleterious effects for the child in later
life.
• Students who are absent from school are at the greatest risk of
dropping out of school early.

Absenteeism is also the topmost problem in Polonuling National High

School. Polonuling National High School today has a population of 800
students, 42 faculty members and 11 staff. It is located at the heart of Tupi,
South Cotabato. The number of Grade 7 students reached to 128 as the total
population. But sadly, almost half of the population of the Grade 7 students
are always absent from class.

The researcher handles English Grade 7 to 3 out of 4 sections, so,

she finds absenteeism as the major problem in relation to their academic
performance. Even the advisers are almost giving up the hope that there is a
solution to this problem. Home Visitation is only effective after the teacher has
visited the absentee student’s home and having approached their respective
parents, but a few weeks after the visitation, the students continue being
absent, hence, missing out on learning what they should have gained if only
 3

they were present in class. The researcher herself has been witness to this
condition. Hence, there is a need to something else, something that will
motivate the students to go to school and attend classes regularly.

School absenteeism in Polonuling National High School has reached

a crisis point, primarily because it has been linked to school drop-out rates,
which at the higher level has reached the average of 30% for the Grade 7
students only, based on the reports from the Teacher, Mrs. Mary Joancerine
Ann Colasito, one of their subject teacher. This means that even in the lower
grade levels of students enrolled in Polonuling Polonuling ational High
School, more and more students are already in the list of those who commit
chronic absenteeism and in some cases, truancy.
 4

Chapter II
METHODOLOGY
Research Design
The aim of the survey is to obtain pertinent data to achieve the
research objective which is determining the topmost reasons for students
committing too many absences. The site of the study is Polonuling National
High School where the Grade 7 student participants are currently enrolled.
Representative samples were taken using a random sampling approach. In
this research study, the critical determination of the major factors that affect
student absenteeism in school was made. The responses, observation and
approval of the student participants towards the questions in the
questionnaire will be evaluated.

Research Locale
The research locale is National High School, located in Brgy.
Polonuling Tupi South Cotabato. Polonuling National High School teaches
students in grades seventh through twelfth in Polonuling, Tupi South
Cotabato of Southern Mindanao(Region XII).

For the 2013-14 school year, Polonuling National High School had
600 students enrolled. This makes the school a small school, with less
students than the average school and much lesser students than the average
school in Tupi.

Polonuling has a total of 30 rooms – 28 of which are actively in use

for instructional purposes and 4 for non-instructional uses. Some 10 new
more classrooms are still being built to cater more students (current estimates
 5

of Grade 11 enrollees reach to more or less 300 students to enroll in the

different

Technical Vocational Tracks offered in Polonuling National High

School) expected for the full implementation of the K+ 12 Program of the
Department of Education. All in all, the school has at least one canteen, clinic,
computer lab, general academic classroom, laboratory, library, and office. Of
the instructional rooms, all of them are standard rooms, meaning they meet
the DepEd’s guidelines for safety and usability.

There are six teachers handling the Grade 7 sections. These sections
are, Grade 7 STE, SPA, Opal and Pearl. The total population for Grade 7 is
128. For Grade 7 STE, there are 8 males and 23 females for a total of 31
students. For Grade 7 SPA, there are 18 Males and 14 females for a total of
32 students. Grade 7 Opal, on the other hand has 25 males and 7 females for
a total of 32 students. Grade 7 Pearl has an enrollee number of 23 females
and 10 males for a total of 33 for this section.

Since the researcher of this study mainly aims to pick out the main
factors of absenteeism among Grade 7 students, then the proponent only
tackles about the number of participants who are in Grade 7 only. However,
the researcher will only pick out via random sampling, 65 of the 128 students
from Grade 7.

Participants of the Study

In this study, the chosen student- participants will be from Grade 7
sections that will be randomly selected. In Grade 7 Pearl, there are 33
 6

students; 20 of whom are identified as chronic absentees. In Grade 7 Opal,

there are a total of 32; 15 of whom are considered absentees because their
attendances reflect that they are having more than the allowed and excused
absences. Grade 7 SPA has 32 students; 10 of whom are chronic absentees
based on the data from the School Form 1. Grade 7 STE students reached a
total of 31 and almost none are always absent from class and reported by
their advisers.

Data Gathering Procedure

The researchers will prepare a letter to be approved by the Dean to
allow the researchers to conduct their research outside the campus. The
researchers will present the approval letter to the principal of the schools
identified in the locale; Polonuling National High School (PNHS), asking for
permission to conduct a face-to-face interview during the participant’s vacant
time at their respective schools.

Upon approval, the researchers will ask the advisers of each sections
to allow them to conduct a research with their students after that, the
researchers will set a schedule with the participants for the survey. The
background of the research content will be explained to inform the
participants as well as their rights and assurance that all information obtained
will be treated with the utmost confidentiality before politely asking them to
sign the consent letter.

Data Analysis
The study used standardized questionnaire as the main tool in
collecting data from a large number of student- participants. The responses
 7

on the causes of absenteeism of the student participants will be analyzed

using a five-point Likert scale with the following equivalent:

 1. Never
 2. Rarely
 3. Sometimes
 4. Very often
 5. Always

For the Part III of the questionnaire which is the “Effects of Absenteeism
in Students in their Learning Performance”, the researcher uses the
descriptors 5- Excellent, 4- Very Good, 3- Good, 2- Fair, and 1-Poor. The
advisers and subject teachers will be the ones who will rate their students
based on their academic performance of their students (whether or not they
commit absenteeism).

Below is the standardized questionnaire that will be used in this study.

The student-participant will be answering the questions to determine which
among the factors rate highest and which among the factors can be possibly
addressed by the School Administration. The results of this survey will help in
analyzing the possible solutions to the current problem of absenteeism
among Grade 7 students in Polonuling National High School.

Ethical Considerations
How would you do it?
 8

REFERENCES

Richard, Maina Kaina (March 2012) Student Absenteeism, Causes and Effect
on Academic Performance: Case of Secondary Schools in OlKalou,
Nyandarua County: Kenya Paperback

Timothy, Keter C. (2002) Community Relations Coordinator

Torres, Gina L. (2004) CAUSES OF ABSENTEEISM AND TARDINESS
AMONG STUDENTS

Wanga, Dolphine A. (2001) Attendance Works: Advancing Student Success

by Reducing Chronic Absence

Walters, Malikah (1998) The Effects of Excessive Absenteeism in Schools

Class attendance: The Impact on Students' Performance

Yabis, Rommel (2005) Action Research on Student and Pupil Absenteeism in

School