ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to explore the causes and impacts of truancy among secondary school students. in Oredo Local Government Area, Edo State. This study was guided by three objectives namely. Data was collected by using questionnaires, interview guides, and documents. The analysis involved quantifying frequencies of responses which were later presented in Tables. The study had a sample of 99 participants. The study revealed factors that influence truancy in schools include:- Lack of administrative strategies by heads of school on student truancy, corporal punishments offered to students, low expectation of students from what happens in schools, poor peer groupings, distance from home to school, unreliable transport to school, weather aspect especially in rain season, variation in the socio-economic status of parents (SES), family divorce, lack of clear policy on managing student truancy in schools, parents keeping themselves distant from their children academic performance and teachers to be not close enough to their students. Thus, the study recommends the government through the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training (MoEVT) to introduce compulsory attendance law similar to that in primary education, to involve parents in their children education, and Teachers are recommended to develop a habit of being attentive to problems raised by students for better assistance.

 

 

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY

 

1.1 Introduction

This chapter covers the background to the problem, statement of the problem, purpose, and objectives of the study, research questions and tasks, significance, and conceptual framework.

 

1.2 Background to the Problem

Truancy is defined as an unauthorized absence from school. Desocio et al (2007) argued that the major problems facing schools were how to effectively deal with student truancy. When students had not attended school for a long period of time or frequently missed school, were classified as truants.

 

That incidence of truancy was widely known to be a problem in formal education systems locally and internationally. A study by Reid (2005) titled “The causes, views and traits of school absenteeism and truancy: in analytical review”; was basically about school absenteeism and truancy. The study was conducted in England and had the following findings; nonattendance and truancy continued due to social inequalities, poverty, education attitudes, and incompetence of some parents, peer pressure, unattractive school buildings and climate. The recommendations made were, preventing and combating absence was expensive in terms of staff time, costly for schools and the nation. Therefore more studies in seeking more causes of truancy were needed to be taken.

Another scholar called Florence (2009) conducted a study titled, “The incidence and causes of Truancy in Senior High Schools: Implication for Counsellors and Parents, in Cape Cost Metropolis in Nigeria. The study sought to investigate various incidences and causes of truancy in the senior high schools in the cape. The author came up with the following findings, truancy was caused by, family related causes, school related causes; teachers related causes and community related causes.

 

The recommendations he made were; firstly, there should be a national-wide

research in all institutions, from basic to the tertiary level on the incidence and causes of truancy in schools. Secondly, there should be a comparison in truancy among endowed schools as well as in single sex schools and mixed schools.

 

There was also a study by Monkie (2004) in the District of West Central Wisconsin.

The title was, “The Nature of Truancy and the Life World of Truants in Schools.” The purpose of the study was to investigate the phenomenon of truancy and then to characterize the nature and associated truancy factors, to ensure appropriate management. He adopted a quantitative method in which questionnaires were used. The study indicated that the majority of participants were aware of the occurrence of truancy in schools.  The study further noted that, factors which contributing to truancy were categorized into the following aspects, personality aspects, which involved poor social skills, low self-esteem and learning difficulties.

 

The study of Monkie (op.cit) had the following recommendations; firstly, learning difficulties should be included in all interventions that were aimed at reducing truancy. Secondly, schools were needed to arrange and conduct training workshops for parents in order to inform them about their roles with regard to enlightening them on how to assist children academically or to monitor their progress and attendance.

Apart from what had been noted, in Nigeria one notes a study conducted by Barongo (2007), titled “Assessment of truancy and dropout among primary school pupils in Rufiji District”. The author argued that there were both social and school related factors in influencing truancy and dropout among primary school pupils. Such factors ranged from poor or little involvement of parents or guardians in making sure that their children attended school regularly, misleading cultural practices that encouraged truancy and dropout, pupil participation in agricultural activities, poor physical infrastructure at school like enough classroom or desks, punishment and bad relationship between teachers and pupils.

 

1.3 Statement of the Problem

Educational systems all over the world, school enrollment, and proper attendance were two sides of the same coin. In Nigeria communities had responded to the call of the government on establishing Oredo Local Government Area, Edo state.

 

However, in the process of trying to promote the provision of secondary education to the majority; Truancy is one anomaly appeared to interrupt the process towards universal secondary education (USE). The current study intended to explore the factors that influencing truancy in Oredo Local Government Area, Edo state in the Oredo Local Government Area. Basing on the figures obtained from the District Education Office, great existed variations between the number of students who were registered and those who regularly attended classes.

 

If that trend of affairs would be left to prevail; for sure the target of the government as well as local communities by providing secondary education to the majority would automatically be tempered. Given that situation where schools registered reasonable numbers of students, but for reasons which were not established, where students abscond schooling; necessitated a need to conduct a study so as to enlighten the government as well as the public on the real causes of high dropout rates due to truancy in Oredo Local Government Area, Edo state in the district.

 

Some researchers had explored the causes of truancy in some other parts of the world different from the district noted. Were there any other causes or were the noted causes in other parts of the world similar to those operating in the district? Why was the number of truants bigger among male students as opposed to female? Why was there poor attendance in a particular season? Were parents cooperating with teachers to find the causes of truancy and strategies to eradicate the anomaly? Such questions and others activated a necessity of making more explorations on the causes and impacts of truancy among secondary school students. in Oredo Local Government Area, Edo state: causes, effects and solution

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1.4 Purpose and Objective of the Study

The purpose of the study was to explore the causes and impacts of truancy among secondary school students in Oredo Local government area.

 

1.4.1Specific Objectives of the Study Were

1. To explore the level of truancy in Oredo Local Government Area,
2. To determine the causes of truancy in Oredo Local Government Area

• To explore the impact of truancy in Oredo Local Government Area.

 

1.5 Research Questions

The study was guided by the following research questions

1. What is the level of truancy in Oredo Local Government Area, Edo state?
2. What are the factors causing truancy in Oredo Local Government Area, Edo state?

• What are the impact of truancy in Oredo Local Government Area, Edo state?

 

1.6 Significance of the Study

1. i) This will create awareness among school administrators and other stakeholders on the causes of truancy in secondary school, ii) The study will help policy makers to come out with policies and programs capable of promoting work skills among students; and iii) The study will reveal to the public sustainable strategies capable of eradicating truancy among students in community school.

 

1.7 Delimitations of the Study

The study explored the causes and impacts of truancy among secondary school students. in Oredo Local Government Area, Edo state.

 

1.8 Limitation of a Study

Best and Khan (2006), defined limitation of study as a condition beyond the researchers, control that may place limits on study conclusion and its application to other situations. The researcher accounted a number of limitations during the cause of the study. These involved family problems which took four months consecutively followed by a number of duties in working station. Also, some of the head of schools hesitated to give out truancy and dropout data for what they said was confidential. Another limitation was a bureaucratic process in issuing regional data. Getting data from the regional educational office, the researcher spent a lot of time but ended up getting nothing.

 

 

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW

 

2.1 Introduction

This chapter presents the literature review related to the study. The exploration was based on school related factors, community related factors and physical related factors.

 

2.2 School Related Factors on Influencing Truancy in Oredo Local Government Area, Edo state