Rampant Absenteeism: The Case of Grade one Pupils of Matabungkay Elementary School

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Absenteeism is the habit of staying away from school without providing a genuine reason. It is a truant behavior that negatively affects the performance of pupils (Eneza: 2013). Grade One Section C of Matabungkay Elementary School is a low performing group wherein most pupils are absent most of the week. This section has this so-called "friday sickness" wherein almost half of the pupils are absent. Among the bad effects of absenteeism is poor academic performance. Absent pupils cannot hear discussions and join group work. This absence is the culprit behind poor oral reading.

METHODS

The researcher used a random sampling technique called fish bowl technique to select the respondents of this study. This was done to ensure that all parents were given an equal opportunity to be a respondent of this study. It was done by placing all the names of the 33 parents in a bowl and drew fifty percent of the names. The rest of the parents were used in validating the questionnaire. Fourteen (14) parents whose children were frequent absentees were the respondents of this study. The descriptive survey also estimated the relationship between or among variables. Finally, the descriptive method was used to achieve the goal of this study which sought to describe the absenteeism among Grade One C pupils of Matabungkay Elementary School. The percentage distribution and ranking was used to treat the demographic profile of the parents. Similarly, the weighted mean was used to determine the extent of the responses in the questionnaire.

RESULTS

Most of the families of the absentee pupils were low income earners. There was rampant absenteeism among Grade One C pupils from June to September 2017. Lack of money was the number one cause of absenteeism.

DISCUSSIONS

In the face of these discussions, it is recommended that participation of parents on the schooling of their children be given voluntarily. The absenteeism Intervention Program is recommended to address the problem of absenteeism among the Grade One Pupils.