Absenteeism and Learners Performance in Sia Ya Central Primary School, Siaya District, Nyanza Province

TABLE OF CONTENT

DECLARATION .................................................................................................................. i

APPROVAL ........................................................................................................................ ii

DEDICATION .................................................................................................................. iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .................................................................................................. iv

TABLE OF CONTENT ...................................................................................................... V

ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... vii

CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................................................. I

INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... l

1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................... l

1.1 Background of the study ................................................................................................ J

1.3 Statement of the problem .............................................................................................. 2

1.4 Purpose of the study ...................................................................................................... 2

1.5 Objective of the study .................................................................................................... 2

1.6 Research Questions ....................................................................................................... 2

I. 7 Scope of the study ......................................................................................................... 3

1.8 Significance of the study ............................................................................................... 3

1.9 Theory ........................................................................................................................... 3

Conceptual frame work ....................................................................................................... 4

CHAPTER TWO ................................................................................................................. 5

LITERATURE REVIEW .................................................................................................... 5

2.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 5

2. 1 Defining learner absenteeism and related concepts ....................................................... 5

2.2 Causes of absenteeism ................................................................................................... 6

2.3Managing learner absenteeism: International best practice .......................................... l 2

V

CHAPTER THREE ........................................................................................................... 17

METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................ 17

3.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 17

3. I Research Design .......................................................................................................... I 7

3.2 Population of study ...................................................................................................... 17

3 .3 Sampling Procedures ................................................................................................... 1 7

3 .4 Research instruments ................................................................................................... 18

3.5 Research Procedure ..................................................................................................... 19

3.6 Sources of Data ......................................................................................................... 19

3.7 Data Analysis .............................................................................................................. 20

3.8 Validity and Reliability ............................................................................................... 20

3.9 Limitations of the Research ......................................................................................... 20

3.10 Data Quality Control ................................................................................................. 20

CHAPTER FOUR ............................................................................................................. 22

DATA PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION ......................................... 22

4.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 22

CHAPTER FIVE ............................................................................................................... 28

SUMMMARY OF THE FINDINGS, RECOMMENDATIONS AND CONCLUSION .28

5.0introduction .................................................................................................................. 28

5.1 Summary of the findings ............................................................................................. 28

5.1.1 Causes ofabsenteeism .............................................................................................. 28

5.1.2 Ways to reduce absenteeism ..................................................................................... 28

5.2 conclusion .................................................................................................................... 28

5.3 Recommendations ....................................................................................................... 29

5.3.1 Areas of future research ............................................................................................ 30

REFERENCES .................................................................................................................. 31

APPENDIX 1: ................................................................................................................... 34

QUESTIONNAIRE ........................................................................................................... 34

Questionnaire for the respondents ................................................................................. 34

ABSTRACT The study was to establish the effects of absenteeism on learners' performance in Siaya central primary school in Siaya District, Nyanza Province, Kenya and the research was guided by the following objectives; to establish causes of absenteeism in Siaya primary school, and to establish the ways to reduce absenteeism in Siaya primary schools. The findings of the study showed that, there are a number of causes of absenteeism included age related problems, gender, learning disabilities, psychological problems, disintegrated family structures, food insecurity, child labor, transport, HIV/ AIDS, teenage pregnancy, difficult Subject matter, school fees problems, learner to educator ratio, learner educator relationships, competence of educators, punishment for late-coming and poor school facilities. The ways to reduce absenteeism included improving the competence of teachers, improve school facilities, improve educator -learner relationship, introduce regular 'spot checks' for specific lesson truancy, rewards for pupils or classes with regular attendance, and Penalize students who are persistently late. The research concluded that there was there 1s need to stop absenteeism decreases performance and therefore deserves attention. Based on the research findings, the following were the recommendations, that there is need for Siaya central primary school to introduce regular 'spot checks' for specific lesson truancy, rewards for pupils or classes with regular attendance , penalties for students who are persistently late and absentees, include absence data on teacher record Vil to make the teachers fear absenting themselves unnecessarily as it shows poor reputation about them, put in place incentives programs that that will help to improve attendance such as good work conditions, time, equipment to enable good performance form both teachers and learners, and encourage good health as teachers who are healthy are less likely to fall sick which will make the teachers have time free from sickness to get more time to teach which will improve the performance the learners in turn.