Abstract:
Absenteeism is a major problem that poses challenges to teaching and learning, and the overall academic performance of students. This study investigated the causes of absenteeism among secondary school students, as perceived by teachers in Kwara State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The population comprised all secondary school teachers in Kwara State, estimated at 15,412. A sample of 378 teachers was selected using purposive, proportional, and simple random sampling techniques. The "Causes of Students' Absenteeism Questionnaire (CASAQ)" was used to collect data, which was validated and had a reliability of 0.79.
The results showed that the main causes of absenteeism among secondary school students, as perceived by teachers, include long distance between school and place of residence, teachers' unfriendliness to students, and students' lack of commitment to schooling. The study also found no significant difference in the causes of absenteeism, as perceived by teachers, based on their educational qualification, marital status, and gender.
Based on the findings, the study recommends building secondary schools within the community to reduce the distance from students' homes and prevent absenteeism. It also suggests that school management should ensure a good relationship between teachers and students to create a student-friendly environment. Additionally, teachers should be enlightened on strategies to reduce absenteeism among secondary school students, regardless of their gender, marital status, and educational qualification.
