TRUANCY AND ITS CONSEQUENCES ON THE
ACADEMIC PERFORMANCES OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN OHAUKWU LOCAL GOVERNMENT
AREA OF EBONYI STATE
INTRODUCTION
BACKGROUND
TO THE STUDY
At different places, people gather to be taught about
different issues of life. These prepare them morally, academically and
otherwise, hence they can face the daunting challenges of life. Be it a formal
gathering point or not, once teaching and learning take place therein, it is a
school. A school is therefore made up of the members of the society and a
prerequisite for acquiring sound education.
To effectively impact the required
knowledge, and to ensure that students understand it, a systematic approach is
applied using a carefully organized scheme of work (curriculum) which covers
the topics to be taught and as should be taught at every given time. The topics
in the curriculum are arranged in such a way that a good understanding of a
preceding topic ensures a better understanding of a succeeding one. To this end,
it is undoubtedly important and optionally compulsory for students to be regular
and punctual to school. This not withstanding, most students absent themselves
from school for some flimsy reasons; this therefore amounts to truancy.
Truancy can be defined as any
intentional, unauthorized absence from compulsory schooling. It typically
describes absences caused by students of their own free will and usually does
not refer to legitimate excused” absences, such as ones related to medical
conditions. Truancy also refers to students who attend school but do not go to
classes. Because of its negative effects on the students in particular and the
society in general, governments and school authorities from time to time devise
measures to checkmate truancy among students. This include; marking of students
attendance twice (assembly and dismissal) a school day, denial of marks and
points to students until the time lost to truancy is made up, punishment of
students by way of labour or canning or parents of defaulters by way of fines,
et c.
Among secondary school students,
truancy is a three-fold problem. There are factors arising from
(i)
The child/family
(ii)
The school and
(iii)
From the
community.
Of
most important and major cause is one of the family factor;
Financial Difficulties: As a result,
students lack adequate nutrition, clothing, other school materials and are
unable to pay their fees.
In Ohaukwu local government, most of
the parents are farmers and traders. In trying to support their parents, some
students join their parents to the major markets of Effium, Inikiri, Okwo,
Idokpo, Eke, Nkwo and other nearby markets while those who train themselves in
school use there major markets day to work for their financial upkeep.
The negative effects of truancy on
student’s school performance and its resultant effect on the society have made
this research work important. It x-rays the effects and make possible
recommendation on measures to reduce or possibly eradicate truancy in the
school.
STATEMENT
OF THE PROBLEM
For a long time now, truancy has been identified as a
serious problem and if not tackled will become a culture among students.
Because of continuous indulgence in it, many students have retarded
academically; consequently, this academic retardation also retards the society
in general. The problem therefore is; what are the effects of truancy on
secondary school students’ performance in Ohaukwu Local Government Area?
PURPOSE
OF THE STUDY
This research work sought to generally determine and
examine truancy in Nigeria secondary schools. Among other things, it
specifically tries to;
i.
Determine the
causes of truancy among secondary school students.
ii.
Examine the ways
by which truancy affects students’ academic performance.
iii.
Establish the effects
of truancy on the development of the students in particular and society in
general.
SIGNIFICANCE
OF THE STUDY
This study will be useful to the following people or
group of people and in the areas as listed below;
i.
Education
administrators will consult this work to determine the various causes and
consequences of truancy. This book will be an eye opener as it will lead them to
the possible solution to this menace. This way, this research will serve as an
instrument for effective school administration.
ii.
This study will
help in the discovery of fundamentals of truancy as can be seen among students.
Through this, proper guidance and counseling will be given to truant students;
this will enable them change for better and make the best out of their education.
iii.
Parents will be
exposed to how and why their wards engage in truancy through this study.
SCOPE
OF THE STUDY
The effects of truancy in Nigeria secondary schools
are covered in this research work. It covers a number of selected secondary
schools in Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. Both public and
private schools were selected for case study; this is due to the fact that
schools (private and public) produce students for the society.
RESEARCH
QUESTIONS
The research was guided by the
following questions.
i. What is/are the
cause (s) of truancy among students in secondary schools?
ii.
Does truancy
affect academic performance of students?
iii.
What are the
effects of truancy on the society.