Absenteeism of Selected Grade Three Pupils of Lumaniag Elementary School

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

No matter how exciting and well-prepared the lesson is and teaching materials are, there are bound to be pupils who miss out on the day's activities -willingly and unwillingly. Based on the records, 71% of the grade three class, both sections combined, awarded "Perfect Attendance" during the First Quarter and dropped down to 69% on the next quarter. This aimed the researcher to have accurate analysis on the reason why some pupils are perennial absentees, so it may help to formulate plans, projects, and programs to minimize their absences.

METHODS

Selected pupils answered a study questionnaire in Grade three of two sections which often absents in class. It has been done at around 12:00 to 12:30 in the afternoon. They were asked for a complete questionnaire. They rated the various situations, reasons, and causes for being absent from school. All of the data were compiled, tallied, tabulated, and presented in a series of tables and graphs. The questionnaire was given to pupils in the medium of Tagalog to increase the chance of accurate responses.

RESULTS

Factors such as environmental, personal reasons, teacher-related reasons, classroom environment, and home have been the result of this study. Included to physical factor was the house is far from school, for personal reason -health problem (which is minimal), and laziness most of the time. When it comes to teacher-related factor was scolded by the teacher or did not like their teacher. Other results which involve classroom environment was their classmates were noisy or experienced bullying and even no friends in class. As for home-related were their parents asked them not to attend the class, their parents quarreled, they were being neglected, too pre-occupied with household chores, need to take care of siblings and even financial matters such as no money to buy snacks or do not have food for lunch.

DISCUSSIONS

Going to school regularly is crucially essential for pupils' education and social skills. It is an alarming problem not only for teachers but for administrators, parents, and community as well. This may affect poor academic performance, difficulty in making friends, and worst may at risk of dropping out of school. Doing modules for those pupils who are considered perennial absentees is the best thing to do for them to catch up with the lessons.