Teachers’ perception of the causes of absenteeism in junior high schools in the Kwadaso Municipality\

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate the teachers’ perception of the causes of absenteeism in Junior High schools in the Kwadaso Municipality. The objectives of the study were to find out home related causes of absenteeism, determine the school related causes of absenteeism and to develop measures to mitigate absenteeism in Junior High schools. Descriptive survey design using the quantitative method was adopted for the study. The target population for study comprised all the head teachers and assistants and teachers public Junior High Schools in the Agric Circuit of the Kwadaso Municipality. The accessible population for study was 90, comprising 12 head teachers and assistants, and 78 teachers in six Junior High Schools of the Agric circuit. The study employed census sampling technique to select all the 12 head teachers and assistants, and 78 teachers for the study. Closed-ended questionnaire was used to collect data for the study. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The study found among others that parent-child poor relation in the home and parental neglect of child was some home related causes of absenteeism. Also, unfriendly behavior of some teachers towards students and lack of attendance policies to guide school attendance was some school related causes of absenteeism. Again, institution of award systems for students’ regularity and punctuality and community involvement on measures to facilitate students’ school attendance were some measures to mitigate absenteeism. It is recommended that the Municipal Education Office in collaboration with heads of schools should formulate a well-developed policy on students’ school attendance for teachers, parents, and students to follow strictly to reduce the act of absenteeism, if not to eliminate it.