Page 28 - Demo

Causes of absenteeism at the secondary level in Jamaica:
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Research methodology
Two hundred and twenty-one (221) parents from nine schools in Kingston/St Andrew, St Catherine and St. Mary participated in the study. Three schools were in rural areas, and the remaining six, in urban areas. Sixty-seven percent (67%) of the sample comprised parents of children in urban schools, and the remaining 33%, parents of children in rural schools. A questionnaire, developed specifically for this study, was used to obtain background information from the parents, such as their level of education and employment status, as well as their views on the causes of absenteeism and the role that PATH plays. The researchers used factor analysis to identify the parents’ perspectives on the causes of absenteeism, and qualitative data analysis computer software enabled the researchers to identify those reasons and explanations.
Main findings
Parents identified the main causes of student absenteeism as; little value for education; lack of resources; and the school environment. The most critical features of little value for education, were: (i) the view that students do not need to attend school on Fridays because nothing of significance is taught; and (ii) children’s lack of respect for both parents and teachers. Lack of resources refers to inadequate resources at both the personal and community levels. It emerged as a main cause because parents felt that, financially, they are unable to provide for their children because of unemployment or inadequate income. The school environment emerged as a main cause because of the parents’ response to items on the questionnaire dealing with overcrowded classrooms and inadequate school facilities (for example, lack of sanitary conveniences and poor ventilation in classrooms).
The research also found that the educational level of the parents influenced their views. Parents with the lowest level of education (primary and below) gave lack of resources the highest rating as the cause of student absenteeism, whereas parents with tertiary education gave this factor the lowest rating. Parents’ reliance on the PATH programme was also apparent. Some parents said that it helped because they could not afford the lunch money; others said they collected the money and purchased ‘something important’ for their children. The qualitative data analysis revealed that, to parents of students who attend traditional high schools, ‘something important’ was money spent primarily on food and books. On the other hand, parents of upgraded high school students listed clothes and food as the two main items purchased.
Implications of the research
The research findings suggest that addressing the problem of absenteeism in our schools requires a multi-pronged approach - on the economic front, in the home and community in general, and at the level of the school. Parents need to earn income in order to afford to send their children to school. It may well be that the low value that parents attach to education is influenced by their financial constraints, making it essential that they give precedence to meeting basic needs over their children’s attendance at school. Harsh economic times put greater pressure on parents in the lower socioeconomic bracket .Some parents, owing to their educational level, appear to need help in accessing PATH. Parents of children who attended the upgraded high schools complained of not even knowing how to get the right application forms.
The deficiencies in the schools’ curricula need to be addressed in an effort to tackle absenteeism. Apart from the need for curriculum renewal to address Friday absenteeism in particular, the Ministry of Education also needs to skillfully manage its purse so that other impediments that prevent children from going to school may be either removed or minimised. These include poor school facilities such as sanitary conveniences, lack of canteen facilities, inadequate ventilation in classrooms, and overcrowded classes.
The importance of the research
This research is significant in that it contributes to filling the gap in knowledge of the causes of absenteeism in secondary schools, and also provides educators and policy makers with critical information for addressing student absenteeism at the secondary level.
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Recognising Outstanding Researchers 2016