The Relationship Between Absenteeism and the Performance of the Learners in Secondary Schools in Soroti District: A Case Study of Arapai Sub- County.

ABSTRACT With the introduction of secondary schools since 1925, teachers have been experiencing a problem of absenteeism of students both public secondary schools and those being opened by different people(private secondary schools) secondary holds a unique importance in people’s lives and it plays significant role in social and cultural life of the students or the individuals (ochieng 1996). Several studies have showed that environment in secondary schools has improved students performance in schools. On other hand, absenteeism of students from school during lessons has made many students to fail meet the needs of the academic performance, for ~xamp1c teachers. Poor performance has therefore demotivated teachers of secondary schools both in private and public secondary schools. The purpose of the study was to explore the relationship between absenteeism and the performance of learners academically in secondary schools in Soroti district taking Arapai Sub County as a case study. The study used both qualitative and quantitative design. Quantitative design will be descriptive involving tallying of data and computing into figure, percentages, drawing chart, tables and graphs, qualitative involves describing relationship absenteeism and performance without the ii’~e of figures, tables and others. The researcher found out that the performance of the leaners was affected by absenteeism in secondary schools of Soroti district - Arapai Sub - County. She also discovered that absenteeism of the learners was caused by a number of factors which include doing both domestic and commercial activities, long distance from home to school and finally poor feedings. The researcher recommended government should increase teacher’s salaries so as to make to them to reduce attrition rate at school. In addition to that, it should construct staff quarters for teachers. This motivates them to work and produce good performance.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION i

APPROVAL ii

DEDICATION iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv

LIST OF TABLES v

LIST OF FIGURES vi

LIST OF .A.CRoNy~l:S vii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABSTRACT x

CHAPTER ONE 1

1.0 Introduction 1

1.1 Background of the study 1

1.2 Statement of the problem 3

1.3 Purpose of the study / main objectives 3

1.3. 1. General objectives of the study 4

1.4. Objectives of the study 4

1.5 Research questions 4

1.6 Scope of the study 4

1-6.1 The content scope of the study 4

1.6.2 The geographical scope of the study 4

1.6.3 The time scope of the study 5

1.7 Significance of the study 5

CHAPTER TWO 6

LITERATURE REVIEW 6

2.0 Introduction ..

2. 1 How domestic/commercial work affects performance 6

2.3 Concept of time management at school 12

2.4 How long distances affect performance 13

CHAPTER THREE 18

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 18

3.0 Introduction 18

VIM

3.1 Research design .18

3.2 Questioners .18

3.3 Research procedure 19

3.4 Data analysis 19

3.5 Ethical consideration 20

3.6 Limitation 20

CHAPTER FOUR 21

PRESENTATION OF DATA ANALYYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS 21

4.0 Overview 21

4.1 Background of the respondents 21

4.2 Causes of absenteeism on learners in secondary schools 22

4.2.1 How domestic work and commercial work affects the performance of

learners 22

4.3 Effects of absenteeism on the performance of learners 24

4.3.1 How long distance affects the performance of learners 24

4.4 How absenteeism has led to poor performance of learners in secondary

schools 26

4.5 Review 28

CKA.I”I’ER FI~1E 29

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS 29

5.0 Introduction 29

5.1 Findings 29

5.2 Summary 29

5.3 Conclusion 30

5.4 Recommendations 31

5.5 Suggestion for further researchers 31

5.6 Review 32

R.EFERENCES 33

APPENDIX: A 34

QUES’I’IONNAIR.E 34

APPEDIXB:TIMEFRAME 37