THE EFFECTS OF TRUANCY ON STUDENTS ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE:

A CASE STUDY OF SOME SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOL IN ONDO WEST LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ONDO STATE

ABSTRACT

This project work was carried out in order to examine the effect of truancy on the academic performance of students in Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State in particular, it is intended to find out the causes of truancy and its effect on students academic performance to be able to make an efficient solution to the problem of truancy. In the course of writing this project, I started with the literature review which borders on the work done by different scholars on the topic the effect of truancy on the academic performance of students in furtherance of the successful completion of this project. The writer did not fail to bring to limelight the methods used in collection of data one which is the use of questionnaires among students for an efficient investigation of these problems. The researcher carefully drew up some questions. A questionnaire containing 20 items from the research questions to elicit students opinion. The data collected was analysed and some of the problems were discovered from the students serve as contents for acceptance. The researcher made some recommendations which will help in ameliorating the shortcomings.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE  

Introduction

Background of the study

Statement of the problem 

Purpose of study

Significance of study

Scope of the study

Limitation of the study

Definition of terms

CHAPTER TWO 

Literature review

CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Population and sampling 

Data collection instrument

Validity of questionnaire 

CHAPTER FOUR

Data analysis and results

CHAPTER FIVE 

Summary, Conclusion and recommendation

Summary

Conclusion

Recommendation

REFERENCE

QUESTIONNAIRE      

 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1    BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY

Giedugba (1996) observed that quite a number of students in institutions of learning are truants. They become truant in order to engage in activities which are neither under the control of the home nor of the school. To defend himself 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 Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo 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. A truant can also be described as the person that stays away from school without good reasons. He or she is irregular at school attendance for he finds other places more attractive than that school and all it stand for. Truancy is one of the offences which students in institutions of learning commit. From research work carried out by Bozumah (2002) it was discovered 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.

1.2    STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

        Truancy poses a serious threat to learning in most schools, the school on the other hand do not seem to be able to cope with the problems, because no meaningful attempt has been made to reach its root. One thing that is clear in this issue that there is a growing tendency for school children to be involved in social vices, such as stealing, smoking, rioting among other. This is because most home no longer play their traditional function to rear and bring up the child in an upright manner. This is because many parents are so preoccupied with duties (working and travelling) outside the homes that they have little or no time to keep watch over the action and behaviour of their children. 

        In most of the schools, there is no conducive atmosphere for learning. This is due to fact that schools are highly populated, poorly equipped and understaffed. Since students cannot cope with their unfavourable conditions, which these school are placed, this eventually leads to truancy and other social vices found in our society today.

        Broken home can also be attributed to a cause of truancy because children from a single parent child will have the mothers house and say he or she is going to the father house thereby using the opportunity to go and stay in her boyfriend house, for the boys they join bad peer group without the mother and father knowing, because either of the parent would think he is in the other parent house and vise visa.

1.3    PUROSE OF STUDY       

        The purpose of the study is to examine;

i.             The effects of truancy on students’ academic performance in secondary schools.

ii.            The role parents, schools, society or community can play to prevents truancy among students in secondary schools.

iii.          To suggest means and methods that could be adopted to eradicate this evil practices in secondary schools.

1.4    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?

1.5    SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

        The study will be of great benefit to parents in Ondo West 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 Ondo West Local Government Area in Ondo State to reap the various school students and enhance the image of their schools lastly, it is expected to help the local government authorities to recognize truancy among secondary school students.  

1.6    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 Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State.

1.8    DEFINITION OF TERMS

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

Vagrant: A person who has no home or job and one who beg. 

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

Disobedient: failing or refusing to obey

Abet: To encourage somebody to be something wrong.

Frustration: Unable to be successful in a particular career.

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