Exploring the Causes of Truancy and Its Influence on Academic Achievement of JHS Students: A Case Study of Schools of Sanguli District

ABSTRACT

The ultimate aim of the study was to explore the causes and its influence of truancy on the academic achievement of JHS students at the Sanguli circuit of schools in Saboba district of the Northern Region of Ghana.  After the review of the related literature, the statement of the problem and the purpose of the study were properly looked at. The objectives and research questions were also properly formulated for the study. The descriptive survey design was adopted.  The target population of the research was the students, teachers and heads of the three junior high schools in the Sanguli circuit.  The sample size of the study was one hundred and thirty respondents (130).  These comprised 110 students, 17 teachers and the 3 basic school heads in the circuit. The stratified random sampling, convenience sample, purposive sampling and nonprobability sample techniques were employed to select the sample.  Questionnaire was the main instrument used in collecting data for the study.  The data collected were analyzed using frequency and percentage tables.  On the causes of truancy, it was revealed that parents do not support their wards with their basic school needs. On the impact of truancy on students, and on how to reduce or control truancy, it was revealed that promoting good-teacher relationship is a way to reduce truancy among students in the Sanguli circuit of schools. Teachers’ role to cheek truancy included marking registers, punishing and counselling. From the findings, it was recommended that the government should develop a policy spelling out effective and efficient measures for parents who do not ensure that their children are punctual at school. Parents should also perform their roles by providing the necessary support for their wards to attend school always.