Factors influencing truancy in secondary schools in Handeni district, Tanzania

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Date

2014

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Sokoine University of Agriculture

Abstract

This study investigated the factors influencing truancy in secondary schools in Handeni district by undertaking a survey as well as collecting secondary data, with the view to identify the trend of truancy from 2007 to 2011. The study aimed at obtaining useful information on the socio-economic factors contributing to truancy. It also determined the attitude of students, teachers, and parents about truancy in the secondary schools. Data were collected by using interview, questionnaires and direct observation. Descriptive and regression analysis using Statistical Package for Social Science were employed as a tool of analysis to determine factors influencing truancy in secondary schools. The results revealed that age of students, age of household, good school classes management and good school administration were contributed truancy in secondary schools. Also parents do not ensure their children to attend school, student parents not live together and sex of students statistically significantly influenced the truancy in secondary schools at P< 0.05. However, year of schooling, whom do you live with, peer groups, distance from home to school, and school is boring did not significantly influence truancy in secondary schools at P< 0.05. Results revealed that the trend of truancy in study area was increased from 2007 to 2011.Moreover findings show that the girls become truant more than boys particularly 2009 and 2011. Also results show that students, parents and teachers were positive attitude towards truancy in secondary schools because the truant students increased every year. This study recommends that the education stakeholders establish different programmes such as school feeding program and school truancy prevention program which will help to reduce truant students. Finally, the study recommends to the district administration to help parents, guardians and school administration to work together as partners in curbing truant students in secondary schools in Handeni District.

Description

Dissertation

Keywords

Truancy, Secondary schools, Handeni district, Tanzania

Citation