A Probe on Absenteeism: The Case of Five Siblings of a Philippine Public Elementary School

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

According to Oxford Dictionaries, absenteeism is a habitual pattern of absences from attending classes without a good reason, which often results in poor individual academic performance. Keter (2017) enumerates the different causes of absenteeism as follows: as phobic adolescence, lack of interest, teacher approach, pampered, private coaching, diseases, and family problem. This phenomenon is observable in most, if not all, schools. In a far-flung public school in Southern Luzon, Philippines, an interesting phenomenon was observed among five siblings. There were instances that they went to school for a week and would be absent for the following weeks or months. This has caused an alarm to their teachers considering that the Department of Education reiterates that once a pupil incurred absences for several days equivalent to 20% of the number of days in a school year, the pupil is considered dropped from all his subjects. This prompts the researchers to investigate the matter.

METHODS

The teacher-researchers interviewed the siblings' classmates, neighbors, and acquaintances to find out the causes of absenteeism among the siblings. Also, parents were called for a personal discourse.

RESULTS

Results of the interview reveal that the siblings are often absent because of poverty and child labor.

DISCUSSIONS

The results show that poverty has a significant impact on children's school attendance that can affect their academic performance as they were absent due to lack of basic needs and support. Also, the siblings experience child labor to help their parents provide the family's needs. They were forced to do works that are not fitted to them where they can earn a small amount of money.