Absenteeism And Pupils' Academic Performance In Primary Schools: A Case Study Of Kibungo Primary School, Nyamarebe Sub-County Ibanda District Uganda

ABSTRACT

This study set out to examine the effect of absenteeism on pupils' academic performance

in Kibungo Primary School, Nyamalebe Sub-county Ibanda District. The study followed

a descriptive survey design, using both quantitative and qualitative data. Teachers and

primary six pupils were the main respondents of this study. Convenience sampling was

used to select Kibungo primary school, primary six and the teachers who answered the

questionnaire while random sampling was used to select the 2o pupils. Two sets of

questionnaires were developed, one for pupils and another for teachers. Class attendance

registers for the year 2007 were also used to collect data on attendance and absenteeism

levels, while reports and mark lists were used to collect data on pupils' academic

performance. SPSS data processor was used in processing the data. Frequency counts and

relative frequencies were used to analyze the data from the questionnaires. The Pearson's

Chi-square and the Linear Correlation Coefficient were the statistical techniques used to

analyze data.

The findings indicate that 70% of pupils parents were farmers and 15% were traders,

which increased the possibility of absenteeism the school, 65% were of low education

level with o-level and below, 60% of the pupils always miss class and on average pupils

in this school attended 3 9 days in term one & 44 days in term two, missed 21 days in

term one (39/60) and 16 days in term two & three (44/60). The mean performance in term

one was 44% and about 51 % in term two & three. The most important causes of

absenteeism are illness (55%) fees problems (25%) and work given at home by parents

(15%) as per pupils but to teachers, a number of factors are responsible, most of which

originate from home. There was a significant relationship between parents' job and level

of education and pupils' absenteeism, with a chi- square value of 0.05 and 0.03

respectively, more pupils (8/11) form parents with less education and farmers, are likely

to miss class due to illness, fees problems and work give by parents. Attendance

significantly affect pupil's academic performance in term one (r = 0.917 and p =0.000).

Attendance in term one significantly affect performance in term tow (P=0.04 & r=0.41)

and term three (P=0.002 & r = 0.586) while attendance in term three was not significant.

The researcher concluded that the major causes of absenteeism in rural schools are

illness, fees problems & work given by parents at home. Parent's job type and level of

education impact significantly absenteeism. There is a high rate of absenteeism in

Kibanga Primary school and the general performance is just fair. Absenteeism has a

significant (negative) impact on pupil's academic performance mainly in term one, but if

we take the annual basis, it is not a significant.

The research recommends that all schools should ensure that they make regular roll calls at least twice a day, in morning and afternoon to provide data for action, reason for missing class should be recorded. Measures like adult literacy, health care and poverty eradiation programs can help reduce absenteeism and the MOES should also come out with a policy on absenteeism.