The perceived impact of lateness and absenteeism on students’ performance. The case of Huni Valley senior high school

Abstract

Students’ absenteeism and lateness has been one of the major factors of poor academic success especially at the second cycle level. In an effort to contribute to addressing this menace, the study sought to examine the causes and effects of absenteeism and lateness on the academic performance of students in the Huni Valley Senior High School. In particular, the study aimed at identifying the major causes of absenteeism and lateness among the students of Huni Valley Senior High School, examining the effects of absenteeism and lateness on the academic performance of the students and developing measures to mitigate the incidence of students’ absenteeism and lateness. The study adopted a case study design with a sample size of 100 respondents. Quota and convenient sampling were employed in selecting respondents. Questionnaire was the instrument for data collection and the field data were analyzed using SPSS and MS Excel. Among the major finding were that sickness, accompanying parents to farm, nursing younger siblings in the absence of the mothers and the fear of punishment were the prime causes of absenteeism in the school. Based on the findings, it is recommended among others that, students should learn to wake up early to avoid lateness; teacher should explore innovative way of dealing with students offences such as counseling rather than the conventional corporal punishment which scare students from school.