Absenteeism is one of the perennial problems in education especiallyat the secondary level. Despite of a free education and different programs sponsored by the National and Local government, absenteeism remains a constraint in students’ performanceand achievement, being absent in class means getting zero in every activities that a student misses.
There are many factors that cause absenteeism such as poor health of student which is the common excuse every time they commit too many absences in class. But after some home visitations, the teacher would discover that it is not the health of the student that hinders him/her to attend in his/her classes but it is their parents’ financial incapability to send them in school at a regular bases,instead of going back to school, students would rather help their parents to earn money for their daily living. Students suffering from this kind of situation are being helped thru the AGAP SAGIP Program where in, they are given modules to be done for an agreed number of days until their parents could be able to send them back to school regularly or teacher would look for sponsors to finance the student’s daily fare .
Aside from financial incapability, students also commit absences because of the influence of various gadgets that distract their attention. They would rather be with their peers gallivanting, deviating on their way home and look for places to hide and play while gambling in front of the computer. They will only go home at school dismissal time.
This situation was already addressed by the local government thus prohibiting students to be accepted in all computer shops during school hours but then againthere are naughty students who bring extra shirtsjust to enter computer shops even in school hours.
This computer addiction is now the number one cause of absenteeism among male students,parents get upset after knowing that their son has committed too many absences without their knowledge that might cause them from failing their subjects.
Some of these factors of absenteeism are beyond the control of the teachers while few can be solved with the cooperation of their parents and the community as well.
Every member of the family and school has a role to determine the solutions to this burgeoning problem that deters the elevation of the students’ achievement level and the effectiveness of teachers. Because whether we like it or not absenteeism has something to do inthe realization of DepEd mission and vision.
By: Judith S. Suba | Teacher I | Justice Emilio Angeles Gancayco Memorial Highschool | Orion, Bataan
