Reduce Absenteeism in Grade V Pupils

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

This study is about "REDUCING ABSENTEEISM IN GRADE V PUPILS" of Victoria Elementary School. Cambridge Dictionary defines absenteeism as a situation in which people are not at school or work when they should be.

Department of Education Order No. 44, s. 2005 guidelines in attendance and punctuality are mentioned in section 5, paragraph 1.2, section 1, Chapter III, Part IV of 2000 DECS Service Manual stated that a student who incurs absences of more than 20% of the prescribed number of class or laboratory periods during the school year or term should be given a failing grade and given no credits for the course or subject, and shall be observed.

In the Grade V Classes with one hundred thirty two pupils, in which seventy (70) are males and sixty two (62) are females with a total of one hundred thirty two (132), eleven pupils (11) were found to have incurred many absences in the first quarter of the S. Y. 2016-2017.

METHODS

This action research used descriptive normative survey in order to solve absenteeism of pupils at Victoria Elementary School. Absenteeism among 11 pupils of grade five was a critical issue and was found out that their attendance must be improved.

The issue has been analyzed and activities such as regular meetings with the involved parents, guidance and counseling of both parents and pupils, home visitations, attendance monitoring, and rewarding the pupils must be implemented to reduce chronic absenteeism in grade five pupils.

Communication with parents and pupils such as home visitation, regular meeting, and counseling plays a vital role to reduce or eradicate absenteeism in school. Giving awards and other surprises motivate pupils to attend in their regular classes. Regular checking of attendance and recording of each pupil’s family background and performance is a big help for teachers to monitor and control the problem by giving alternative solutions as what was conducted in the study.

RESULTS

After taking the activities such as meeting with the student and parents on a regular basis, guidance and counseling, monitoring of daily attendance, especially home visitation, and the giving of certificate or award monthly, improvement on attendance was obvious.

DISCUSSIONS

As a teacher, it is a great responsibility to be sensitive in all aspects of the pupils' well-being. This was a realization of what has been one of the issues being experienced by most in school. Conducting a research such as this helps in solving a certain problem or may even serve as prevention in the future.