THE EFFECTS OF TRUANCY ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE: A CASE STUDY OF SOME SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOLS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Giedugba (1996) observed that quite a number of students in the institution of learning are truant. They become truant in order to engage in activities which are either under the control of the home nor the school. to depend him or herself the truant  decoys his parents and teachers and frequent truancy may lead to vagrancy. Truancy is more a proof of the inadequacy of our present educational system than an evidence of any propensity to crime.

          It is a system, which attaches little importance to individuality. The ways in which children exhibit their truancy are many. An example can be cited in Egor local government area of Edo state where students usually go to the bust to search for snails, killing rabbits and collecting fruits, going to hidden places to play, wondering about in the streets without any purpose. Some finds their ways to the rivers to swim while others engage in petty jobs to get money for buying snacks, minerals, ice cream etc. some even engage in secrete love that always makes them to leave the school premises.

          There are some students who cannot bear or remain in the corrective atmosphere at home or in the school such students will have to explore other places to relax and satisfy their curiosity. Obviously, such students will truant in the school. Truant is a person that stays away from school without good reasons. He or she is irregular at school attendance activities. Truancy is one of the offences which students in institutions of learning commit.        From research work carried out it was discovered by Bozumah Baharudin (2002) that truancy is of varying degree in institutions of learning and it is comparatively greater in the secondary schools than the high institutions of learning.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEMS

          The study will therefore attempt to find out the effects of truancy on students academic performance in schools.

PURPOSE OF STUDY       

          The purpose of the study is to examine:

a.                 The effects of truancy on students’ academic performance in secondary school. Schools where truancy prevails and disobedient children are likely to face problems in their academic pursuit, which lead to laziness and stealing.

b.                 The role parents, schools, society or community can play to prevents truancy among students in secondary schools.  This may be as  a result of too much domestic work given to children by their  parents or children who are not given breakfast in time or as a result of broken homes, bad homes training and poor teacher, parents relationship can cause truancy among children, poor school hygiene or school environment unfavorable physical condition, constant money collection can keep the student away from schools which may cause them to be truants.

c.                  To suggest means and methods that could be adopted to eradicate this evil practice in secondary schools, from well planned activities or moral instruction a truant can discover that what is not rewarding should not be repeated and that any bad behaviour can bring disgrace to himself, his parents and even to the community of which he is a member. It is clear that in discussing the background of the causes of truancy the child parents, the environment, the school and the child’s companions have their various contributing factors.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

a.                 Why do students practice truancy in secondary schools?

b.                 What are the effects of truancy on the academic performance of students in secondary schools?

c.                  What role can the parent’s, school or environment play to prevent truancy in secondary schools?

d.                 Suggest means and method that could be adopted to eradicate truancy in secondary schools.

SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

The study will be of great benefits to the parents in Orhionmwon Local Government Area who will come to appreciate the implication of children’s truancy in secondary school. Also it is hoped that this study will also help the secondary school administration in Orhionmwon Local Government Area to reap the various school student and enhance the image of their schools. Lastly, it is expected to help the Local Government authorities to recognize truancy among secondary school students.

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

          This study is expected to cover only secondary schools, the investigation is limited to the phenomenon of the study of truancy among secondary schools, academic performance of students in some selected secondary schools in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State.  

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Truancy: The practice of staying away fro school without permission. In other words, it is the act of staying away from school without a reasonable excuse.

Vagrancy: The crime of living one the streets and asking for money from people.

Truant: A child who stays away from schools without permission.

Curiosity: A strong desire to know about something.

Disobedient: failing or refusing to obey.

Abet: To encourage somebody to be something wrong.

Frustrated: Unable to be successful in a particular career.

Indulged: to be too generous in allowing somebody to do whatever they like.