ACADEMIC PERFORMANCES OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN EBONYI STATE




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.
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