Factors Affecting Students' School Attendance

SHARON ROSE P. TOLEDO
MAED-EDUCATIONAL MANAGEMENT

Statement of the problem
This study aims to identify the factors affecting the
pupil’s attendance in school. Specifically, this study:
 Identify the factors affects the pupil’s attendance in
school.
 Design a pupil’s academic development program

Respondents
 The respondents of the study were the pupils of
municipality of Banga enrolled in different public
elementary schools enrolled in the school year 2013-2014.
The respondents are coming from Grades 2 to 6 classes of
the elementary schools.
 The respondents of the non-central schools are mostly
coming from the families who work as planter and
harvester of crops like corns, rice, cassava, vegetables and
bananas, while the pupils of the central schools are coming
from the main areas of the barangays where the central
school is located.
 There are three hundred forty (340) pupils from Grade two
to Grade Six who have answered the questionnaires.

Table 1. Number of Respondents from the
Elementary Schools of Banga
Name of School
Number of Respondent
Banga Central Elementary School 73
Purok Reyes Central Elementary School 67
Lamba Central Elementary School 60
Malaya Elementary School 52
San Vicente Elementary School 49
E. Asion Elementary School 39
Total 340

Research Instruments
 The instrument was a questionnaire which was
recommended by the panel during the pre-oral
defense. The questionnaire was divided into two parts
where the first part is the personal information of the
respondents. The second part was a question asked to
pupils which states, “Do you attend school regularly”?
If their answer is “Yes” or “No” they need to provide
reasons why they answer.

Data Gathering Procedure
 In gathering the data, the researcher seeks approval
from the school principal to conduct the questionnaire
to the pupils who were taking summer classes of April
2013. Each pupil was given a questionnaire to fill up
and answered. They were oriented that all their
responses were kept confidential.

Data Analysis
 The data analysis used data coding. Data coding was
used in this research to condense the reasons of the
pupils why they like going to school and why they were
absent from their classes. It helped to interpret the
reasons into factors that lead to an idea why pupils
likes and avoids school. Deductive method of data
coding was used in this study, wherein the reasons are
listed exactly what the students answered in their
questionnaire and then classify into an idea. The
researcher makes some codes for the answers which
have the same thoughts to form an idea and make it as
a factor.

Data Analysis
 After the researcher collected the questionnaires from
the school. The reason which written by the
respondent-students was listed, then it was analysed
according to the schools which they represented. All
central schools are combined so as with the non-centra
schools. The responses are listed in two classifications,
the Yes and No categories, the Yes responses are
consider as positive response and No as negative
response.

Data Analysis
 The questionnaires are numbered by each
school along with the positive and negative
response. Then, responses are coded into an
idea which an action is in the same thought,
the positive responses are the reasons why they
like to be in school while the negative response
are the reason which they are absent from their
classes. There are respondents who answer
positively and negatively but some of the
respondents both write their reasons in
positive and negative.

Presentation, Analysis &
Interpretation
 The basic questions asked to the respondents
were: “Do you attend school regularly? Why?” These
simple questions were able to gather many interesting
responses. It was found out that two hundred eighty-
five (285) of the pupils answered “Yes” this mean that
they are positively attend school regularly while only
one hundred sixty-seven (167) said “No”. Their
responses shows that they have reasons why they skip
classes.

Presentation, Analysis,
Interpretation
 There are thirteen factors that came out in this study
namely
 Achievement
 Social Factors
 The need to learn basic skills
 Responsibilities at home,
 Poverty
 Sickness Wellness
 Ambition, Attitude about school, Travel, Employment
(Work), Extra Co-curricular Activities Involvement, Climate
Condition (Nature) and Values (Valuing Education).

Presentation, Analysis,
Interpretation
 Ambition
 Attitude about school
 Travel
 Employment (Work)
 Extra Co-curricular Activities Involvement
 Climate Condition (Nature)
 Values (Valuing Education).

 Table 3 are the factors which categorized into to
negative and positive responses. The factors were
determined based from the coded categories found in
the responses of the pupils.

Table 3. Number of Responses according to the Factors Coded
Coded Factors Number of
Responses
1. ACHIEVEMENT
a. Perfect the exam 2
b. Complete Attendance 9
c. Higher Grades 26
d. Able to read and Write 29
TOTAL 86
2. SOCIAL FACTORS
a. Friends 29
b. Like the teachers 23
c. Went to Uncle, Grandfather & Grandmother’s Wake 6
d. Visited Grandparent 5
TOTAL 58

3. THE NEED TO LEARN BASIC SKILLS
a. Wrting 58
b. Read 46
c. Math 3
TOTAL 107
4. RESPONSIBILITIES AT HOME
a. Help the family 34
b. Help Parents in washing clothes 6
c. Help taking care of younger siblings 4
TOTAL 44
5. POVERTY
a. No Money 4
b. No Snacks and Lunch 15
c. No Rice 5
TOTAL 24
6. SICKNESS/PHYSICAL WELLNESS
a. Sickness (Not defined) 69
b. Fever 5
c. Stomache 7
d. Earcahes, Rashes, Sore Eyes & Vomiting, Mumps 58
TOTAL 86

7. AMBITION
a. Desire to finish school 31
b. To own a house 5
c. To have a good job in the future 28
TOTAL 64
8. ATTITUDE ABOUT SCHOOL
a. Late to wake up 3
b. Lazy to go to school 7
TOTAL 10
9. TRAVEL
a. Desire to travel Manila 3
b. Went to Davao, Gensan, Surallah and Marbel 16
TOTAL 19
10. VALUES
a. Learn good manner or values 12
11. EMPLOYMENT (Work)
a. Harvest Corn, Cassava and Rice and they got pay 18
12. EXTRA-CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES INVOLMENT
a. Join the choir 3
13. CLIMATE CONDITION (Nature)
a. Heavy Rain 4

Presentation, Analysis, Interpretation
 This study further noted that their reasons in
attending school were either positive or negative. The
most highly endorsed response (107 answers) gathered
from pupils why they regularly attend school are the
factor which the need to learn various skills. These
skills, according to them, includes reading, writing,
and singing.

Presentation, Analysis, Interpretation
Code Positive Factors Code Negative Factor
01 Achievement 09 Social Factors
02 Social Factors 10 Responsibilities at Home
03
The Need to Learn Basic Skills
11 Poverty
04 Responsibilities at Home 12 Sickness/Physical Wellness
05 Ambition 13 Attitude about School
06 Values 14 Travel
07 Employment 15
Extra- Co-Curricular Activities Involvement
08 Travel 16 Climate Condition
Table 2 Negative and Positive Factors as used in Data Coding

Factors that affects the Student’s
Attendance
 1. Achievement for the pupils in this studies show
that they wanted to perfect their exam, complete the
attendance for the whole school year, get a higher
grades and able to read and write. They believe that if
they are in school everyday they could achieve these
things. Below is the actual response of the pupils
concerning this factor.
“Because I want to learn and be good student
and perfect the attendace” Pupil No. 12, San
Vicente Elementary School

Attendance
 2. Social Factors in this study was considered. They go to school
because of their friends, they like teachers and went visiting the
relatives like uncle and grandparents. It is reasons why children absent
from their classes because they love to be their friends, enjoy the
company of each other. NSO Fact Sheets of 2002, Sleeping/resting with
playing with friends and studying/reading were common activities of
children with ages under 15 years old, they usually spent time playing
with friends. This social factor can be categorized possibly with
negative and positive. Wherein, the visiting for the relatives can be
done during weekends and otherwise if it’s really important on the
school days. Some of the answered are quoted to show the reasons of
the pupils why they absent form there classes. The environment and
the personal characteristics of learners play an important role in their
academic success. The school personnel, members of the families and
communities provide help and support to students for the quality of
their academic performance (Goddard, 2003).

Attendance
 Social Factors can be considered as positive and negative
response depending on the reasons of the respondents.
They like to go to school because they like their teacher,
they want to be with their friends and they enjoy in school
because of friends and teachers. On the other hand, they
skip from their classes because they go along with their
friends and enjoy together
“ Para makaobra maeskwela para magbright name si
teacher magtudlo sadya sa eskwelahan kay damo ko balon
kay damo ko kwarta si papang masadya ang eskwelahan. So
that I could work, learning, I like the teacher teaching us, and I
have lot of money if I go to school and my father will be happy if
I’m in school. (Pupil No. 10, of Lamba Central Elementary
School)

Attendance
 3. The need to learn to the basic skills such as
writing, reading and learning math. Globally children
are pressurized to learn more in schools and improve
their abilities to read, write and apply solution of
problems in order to pass a successful and comfortable
life ( Nyipir, 2006). In this study, it was found out that
there is a great factor of the students to learn the basic
skills in school which is writing and reading and doing
simple problem solving. There is a desire for them to
learn the basic academic skills of school which they
believe for their improvement of their life.

Attendance
 “Gaatend ko sng school permi kay gusto ko
magnami pa gid ko magbasa, magdamo p gid akon
nabal-an. Kng permi abi sa eskwelahan damo ka
mabal an. Kag para makabulig man k sa akon
pamilya sa sunod”.
(I attend school regularly because I want to
improve my talent and I want to know a lot of
things and if I go to school regularly this will help me
get someday what I want. I know going to school is
the way to have a good life.” (Pupil No.40, Grade VI of
PRCES).

Attendance
 4. Responsibility at home is another factor to be consider which the
students believe to be a success in attending school, like helping the
family in the house, it can be noted to be positively and negatively,
some reasons are they work so that they can help their parents. On the
other hand, they like to help their families in the future by studying
hard.
“Gusto ko sa school kay gusto ko makatuon sng
madamo kag pra makapangita ko sang name nga
obra.
(I want in school so that I can learn many things in my lessons
and to find a better job in the future (Pupil No.13, Grade VI of
SVES).

Attendance
 5. Poverty with these factor the NSO reports that two in every three
working attended school. This translates to ratio of two enrollees for
every working child who was not able to attend school (NSO, Fact
Sheets of 2002). Respondents answered they are absent from their
classes because they do not have money because the parents are
jobless, they don’t have snacks and lunch, and no rice. Child poverty is
both hidden and visible and knows no boundaries. Child poverty
means not being able to concentrate due to hunger and lack of sleep or
not having warm clothes when the weather turns cold. Or it can mean
being teased for not having things, or being treated differently. Child
poverty means coming to school worried or anxious, making it harder
to learn. Child poverty is unfair and unjust ( White, 2010). Child’s
poverty cannot be blame on him, he cannot choose who will be his
parent or which family he could be belong. These factor cannot easily
be addressed because poverty is very present everywhere.

Attendance (Poverty)
 They make absences so that they can help their
parents in finding their needs. These reason can be
considered as negative responses of the respondent.
The study of Romero, M and Lee, Y. (2007) that the
children coming from low financial status are absent
half-day to help their parents in selling goods in
market, having part time. It shows that most of the
pupils are going to their classes regularly to learn
more, learn things which they do not learn
academically and skilfully. The pupils also believe that
attending school regularly it will help them have a
good future and will enable them to help their family.

Attendance (Poverty)
 “Wala kami balon”.
(I don’t have lunch), Pupil No.13, Grade V of
PRCES)
 “Permi ko absent kay wala kmi bugas, kay si nanay wala
man sang obra. Mabsent k okay matanom kmi sang mais
sa bukid. Kis a maabsent man k okay wala may mabilin
sa balay”.(I am always absent because we don’t have rice and
my mother has no work. I absent because we plant corn in the
mountain. Sometime I absent because there no one left in the
house (Pupil No.2, Grade VI of PRCES).

Attendance
 6. Sickness and Physical Wellness these factors are
one of the most answered where most of the school
children got easily sick especially on rainy days. Some
of the sickness are stated such as headaches, earaches,
sore eyes, vomiting, mumps, stomaches, and fever.
Below are the exact words which pupils have written in
the questionnaire.
 “Absent ako kay sakit akon ulo, kag nagbantay ko sng
manghod ko, kag nglaba ko sang bayo. (I am absent
because I had a headache, and I baby sit and I help washing
clothes(Pupil No.2, Grade VI of PRCES).

Factors that affects the Student’s Attendance
(Sickness and Physical Wellness)
 Physical wellness these factor is related to the boy’s
circumcision, The respondents from Grade two to six classes
which children are in the age of 7 to 13 years old, boys in this age
are also circumcised which some of the respondents have gone
through this personal obligation for health reason also and some
of the respondents are absent because they got circumcised. The
health benefits of circumcision include protection against
urinary tract infection and thus permanent damage to the still-
growing kidney, reduced likelihood of penile inflammation, and
elimination of risk of phimosis, which impedes micturition and
results in difficult and painful erections in adolescence and
adulthood. (WHO, 2007)
 “Wala ko nagschool kay ngpatuli ko”. (I absent from my class because
I circumcised. Pupil No.9, Grade IV of Cabuling Elementary School)

Attendance (Ambition)
 7. Ambition In this study it was considered as a factor
where the respondents have the desire to finish school, to
own a house and to have a good job in the future. Students
who have ambitions in life have the desire to do things and
be active in everything they do. In this study, it was found
out that respondents have goals in life why they like school
and perform well in their studies.
 “I need to because it is one of my dream in life to finish my
studies in elem. Until college I know elem graduate is one of
the requirements in going to high school. And I learned of
more when I am always in the in the school or when I attended
school regularly.” (Pupil No. 8 of Banga Central Elementary
School)

Attendance (Attitude about School)
 8. Attitude about school Children’s attitudes changes from
time to time. This factor can be negative and positive. Some of
the responses they like to be in school, because they enjoy seeing
their teacher, they like to be with their friends. On the other
hand, it becomes negative because some of the pupils are lazy to
go school and sometimes they wake up late in the morning. The
study of Malcom, et al, 2007 states that some pupils mentioned
home-related factors such as distress when parents split up, a few
noted as person factors as laziness and habit of poor attendance.
Peer relationships are important for all children, and with peer
relationships come contact and interaction. It may seem obvious
that all people experiencing good peer relationships will want
spend time in contact with each other, but some studies have
shown how contact actually increase the level of peer acceptance
( Guralnick, 2006).

(Travel)
 9. Travel is another factor that can be considered in the
responses of the students, it can be taken positively and
negatively. They want to be in school because they want to
travel to other place by joining in the extra-co-curricular
activities which can be held in other places. On the other
hand, it can be taken as negatively because they made
absences because they went to other place visiting the
place or they have important things to do that need their
presence. Travel in other countries makes as an excuse in
school because it is cheaper. ( NWT & ACT, 2012).
 “Nag-absent ko kay napatay akon nga pakaisa kag kung
gabsent ko gis a /kay galakat kami sa suralah kag kung gis a
nman/ birthday/ kag makadto sa marbel”. (I absent from my
class because my cousin died, we went to Surallah, sometimes its
birthday and we went to Marbel. Pupil No.4 of Purok Central
Elementary School)

(Employment)
 10. Employment is factor which is doing things in exchange of pay. In
this study the respondents answered they absent from their classes to
work in the planting and harvesting corn, harvesting cassava and
planting rice in exchange of a daily minimum pay. NSO Fact Sheets of
2002 states that the top two reasons why children stopped/dropped out
of school were children’s loss of interest in schooling and insufficient
family/household income to support their education. This was revealed
by both working children and adult respondents. Loss of interest in
schooling ranked as the number 1 reason among male dropout working
students according to both child and parent/guardian respondents.
Females, on the other hand, stopped from schooling since they could
not afford to go to school due to financial incapability of the
family/household to support their education.

(Employment)
 Younger children seemed to have high interest in schooling
than the older ones as reported by a lower proportion of
children 5-9 years old who were not interested in school
(29.4%). Children in the oldest age group 15-17 years old
reported higher proportion of the inability of their family
to finance their education (31.7%). The fact sheets did not
stated the work what the children are doing but they got
the census that children that were absent from their classes
because they have certain work to do.
 “Nagaabsent ko kay nagsaghaw kami sang balinghoy”. ( I absent
from my class because we got cassava which are remain from the
harvest.)Pupil No. 7 of E. Asion Elementary School

Attendance (Climate Condition)
 11. Climate Condition is considered another factor because pupils have
answered that heavy rains make them sick. They cannot also go to school
because sometimes it’s the distance of school from their house and there is
heavy pouring outside that they cannot travel going to school. Executive Order
No. 66 of 2012 Prescribing Rules on the cancellation or Suspension of Classes
and work in Government due to typhoons, flooding, other weather
disturbances and calamities. The Department of Education as one of the
agency who are particularly involve in the risk reduction can declare for the
suspension of class. In this study the climate condition is one of the cause of
sickness of the students why they have absence in their classes.There is high
rate of absenteeism among students in Ajman and Sharjah schools due to the
poor weather, according to schools officials. Congestion in some of the main
roads caused delay of school buses, and many students and employees arrived
late to the schools premises in Sharjah, Ajman. (Abdulla 2015).
 “Sakit ulo ko kay nagsulay sa ulan”. ( I have headache because of the rain.” Pupil No
14 of Banga Central Elementary School)

Factors that affects the Student’s Attendance (Extra-Co-Curricular
Activities Involvement
 12. Extra-Co-Curricular Activities Involvement these factor
were considered. The respondents answered why they go to
school because they have practice in choir. This factor can be
helpful because pupils will stay in school even not in their
classes. Joining in the extra co-curricular activities helps the
student in their academic performance. It covers the
achievement of the candidates at all levels (school, districts,
division, regional, national and internation) in five (5) areas such
as a.) Contests and Competitions (CC), b.) Student leadership
(SL) c.) Campus Journalism (CJ) d.) Officership and Membership
(OM) and e.) Participate or Attendance (PA). (DepEd Order No.
74s 2012).
 “Because I want to learn more lessons and I want to practice choir
and learn good values”. (Pupil No. 14 of Banga Central Elementary
School)

(Values)
 13. Values (Valuing Education) are factor that can
taken from this paper because the respondents have
shown that they gave important to the education that
why they are in there classes because they can learn
good manners and they will be good in the future.
 “Because I want o learn how to sing more properly, I want
to learn more good values and good morals. Also I want
to make more friends and to know why it it important to
learn”. (Pupil No. 39 of Banga Central Elementary School)

Summary of Findings
 There are six (6) elementary schools of the municipality of
Banga which the respondents are enrolled in the school
year 2013-2014.There are three hundred forty (340) pupils
of elementary school taken as respondents who answered
the questionnaire. There are two hundred (200) pupils
from the Central elementary schools, and one hundred
forty (140) came from Non-central elementary schools.
Respondents are pupils from Grade two to Grade Six
classes.
 There are thirteen factors related to the absences of the
students in school, which are categorized into positive and
negative responses.

Conclusion
 Based on the study the reasons there are thirteen factors
which are related to the absences of the students which are
categorized into positive and negative response; these are
Achievement, Social Factors, The need to learn basic skills,
Responsibilities at home, Poverty, Sickness Wellness,
Ambition, Attitude about school, Travel, Employment
(Work), Extra Co-curricular Activities Involvement,
Climate Condition (Nature) and Values. These factors have
shown in the different studies in the country and abroad.
 A pupil academic development program is made to address
the absences of pupils in elementary school, and also help
them address the need for those who are regularly
attending school.

Recommendation
 Based on the results of the study, the researcher
recommends the following;
 The studies shall be use in further studies.
 The academic development program will be
recommended to the recipient schools in the
municipality of Banga.

Factors Affecting Students' School Attendance

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