School Attendance, Dropout and Academic Performance in Mining Areas: The Case of Selected Junior High Schools in the Atwima Kwanwoma District

ABSTRACT This study sought out to investigate the influence of illegal mining on school attendance, dropout and academic performance of junior high school pupils in the Atwima Kwanwoma District in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. In order to achieve the purpose of the study, a convergent mixed method design was employed. The sample size for the quantitative study was 105, comprising 70 pupils and 35 parents. In the qualitative phase, a sample size of 8 comprising 4 pupils and 4 parents were employed. The researcher used questionnaire and interview guide as the primary tools for collecting data. The questionnaire and interview guide were employed to collect quantitative and qualitative data respectively. The quantitative data were analysed using the Statistical Product and Service Solution, SPSS version 20 whereas the qualitative data were analysed using the thematic approach. Among the findings of the study, it was revealed that most of the pupils acknowledge the fact that they often absent themselves from class and go into mining without official excuse or permission. It was again revealed that, illegal mining activities contributed statistically significantly to pupils’ poor academic performance in Social Studies. The study recommended that the Directorate of the Ghana Education Service at Atwima Kwanwoma District and traditional leaders should be in constant dialogue with members of the communities, especially parents, to appreciate the value of formal education in order to ensure that their children stay in school and study. It was suggested that further research be conducted in other basic schools in the country where illegal mining activities are carried out to give the general overview regarding the influence of illegal mining activities on school attendance, dropout and academic performance of junior high school pupils and to come out with holistic approach in curbing the situation.