Absenteeism and Academic Performance of Secondary Schools (A Case Study of Buryansungwe Sec. School)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

DECLARATION

APPROVAL

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS v

LIST OF TABLES

ACRONYMS

ABSTRACT

C~A~TE~ ONE 1

IN~D U CTION 1

1.0 Background 1

1.1 Statement of the Problem 1

1.2 Objectives of the Study 2

1.2.1 General Objective of the Study 2

1.2.2 Specific Objectives of the Study 2

1.3 Research Questions 2

1.4 Scope of the Study 3

1.5 Significance of the Study 3

CIIAPTE F~ ~ 4

LITE ~U ~ R~ E\I’IEW

2.0 Introduction 4

2.1 Attitude towards Buryansungwe Secondary School in Ibanda 4

V

2.1.1 Negative attitude on the teachers’ part .4

2.1.2 Negative attitude on the learners’ part 6

2.2 Teaching Methods 7

2.2.1 Teaching /Learning Resources 8

2.2.2 Quality of Manpower

2.3 Role of teachers on the Academic Performance 9

CLIAP1ER TF1~~EE 11

~1~ 11

3.0 Introduction 11

3.1 Research Design 11

3.2 Area and Population of the Study 11

3.3 Sample Selection 11

3.4 Sample Size 12

3.5 Data Collection Instruments 12

3.5.1 Questionnaires 12

3.5.2 Structured Interview 12

3.5.3 Focus Group Discussions 12

3.6 Data Collection Methods 13

3.6.1 Primary data collection method 13

3.6.2 Secondary data sources 13

3.7 Procedures 13

3.8 Data Analysis 13

3.9 Ethical Considerations 14

3.10 Limitations 14

3.11 Delimitations 15

vi

CHAP”rER ~ • 16

PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION OF DATA 16

4.0 Introduction 16

4.1 Socio-demographic background of the Respondents 16

4.1.lSex 16

4.1.2Age 16

4.1.3 Marital status 17

4.1.5 Occupation 18

4.2 Attitudes towards Buryansungwe Secondary School in Ibanda 18

4.2.1 Attitude of Parents towards the secondary Schools 18

4.2.2 Attitude of Teachers towards secondary Schools 19

4.2.2.1 Negative Attitude 20

4.2.2.2 Negative attitudes on Learners 20

4.3 Methods used for the retention of secondary school learners in schools 21

4.4 Roles of Teachers in children’s performance 22

4.5 Roles of Parents in Children’s performance 22

4.6 Absenteeism and Academic performance 23

4.6.1 Causes of Absenteeism 23

Long distances 24

4.6.2 Solutions 24

4.6.3 Performance of Absentees 26

4.6.4 Performance of those who are always present 26

4.6.5 Relationship between Absenteeism and Academic Performance 27

VII

CFIAP1ER FI\IE 28

SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS ...... 28

5.0 Introduction 28

5.1 Summary 28

5.2 Conclusions 30

53 Recommendations 30

REFERENCES 32

APPENDICES 33

APPENDIX A: QUESTIONNAIRES TO THE PARENTS, TEACHERS, HEAD- TEACHER

AND LEARNERS 33

APPENDIX B: BUDGET 38

APPENDIX C: TIME FRAME 39

VIII

LIST OF TABLES

Table 1: Sex of the Respondents~16

Table 2: Age of the Respondents 16

Table 3: Marital status of the Respondents 17

Table 4: Education level of the Teachers 17

Table 5: Occupation of the Respondents 18

Table 6: Attitude of Parents towards the secondary Schools 19

Table 7: Attitude of Teachers towards secondary class 19

Table 8: Negative attitude of Teachers against secondaryClasses 20

Table 9: Negative attitudes on learners’ part 20

Table 10: Methods used 21

Table 11: Roles of Teachers in Children’s performance 22

Table 12: Causes of Absenteeism 23

Table 13: Solutions to the problems 24

Table 14: Performance of Absentees 26