AN INVESTIGATION OF THE CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF TRUANCY ON THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS OF PRIMARY SCHOOL PUPILS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Education has recently come to be regarded around the world as one of the most universal means of ensuring one's own survival as well as the enhancement of one's own and society's well-being. The introduction of formal education is often regarded as the cornerstone of national growth as well as the most certain path to achieving all long-term goals and objectives. As a result, families and people, particularly teenagers and children, are placing a greater emphasis on educational opportunities. There will be no effective impact and lasting successes in a nation's daily affairs unless the citizens, officers, and workers are educated and understand their obligations, functions, and responsibilities. They will also observe the laws, apply policies, and cooperate in the affairs of the nation's day to day operations. Established in 1982, the 6-3-3-4 System of Education aimed to provide universal basic education for citizens in order to breed species of individuals who have compassion for our great Nation, who have National consciousness and the right attitude to life, properties, and values that would enable the country to progress to the next level of development. (Ogbonna et al., 2009; Chinasa et al., 2009; Onwuchekwa et al., 2009). Although the federal government of Nigeria has spent a lot of money and effort in the field of education, the results have been profitable and promising for the country's progress throughout the years, giving reason for optimism for the future in the near future. A number of reasons have undoubtedly contributed to the slowing down of the trend of fast progress in education; among them, absenteeism among students and instructors in elementary and secondary schools has been identified as a cankerworm in the system of education. In Nigerian secondary schools, this has prompted a number of issues about the quality of instruction and the management of the educational system. Thornberry (2000) and Huzinga (2000a). Furthermore, the consequence of truancy is extremely evident, and it is almost always detrimental to the current and future educational lives of those who engage in it. Truancy leads in a reduction in intellectual growth as well as a decrease in personal betterment. Additionally, it results in low academic achievement at the conclusion of school periods, school terms, and the school year. When students fail to attend school, it is considered that this will have a negative impact on their academic performance and hence on the overall quality of their education. It lowers a child's intellectual performance to a lower level than before. It contributes to the deterioration of educational standards in schools. It raises the number of examination malpractices and the number of unsatisfactory examination outcomes, both internal and external. The act of Truancy during one's school years is also a factor that leads to idealness, joblessness, and underemployment among the majority of people today, just because one participated in the act of Truancy during one's school years. Nonetheless, the purpose of this study is to research the actual actions, causes, and consequences of truancy in secondary schools, as well as the impact of truancy on the academic achievements of those who are truants in these schools. Oehme and Franzke (2002) developed a formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized formalized (Oehme and Franzke, 2002) Truancy is one of the most serious antisocial disciplinary issues that secondary school pupils in Nigeria are confronted with. Researchers have paid close attention to the notion of indiscipline as well as the actions of indiscipline. Following the findings of Peck (2003), it has been asserted that a variety of behavioral disorders such as thieving, violence, drug abuse, examination malpractice, sexual abuse, and truancy has undermined effective teaching-learning processes to such an extent that some teachers have become helpless and disorganized in their task of imparting knowledge to students. Thornberry (2000) and Huzinga (2000a).

1.2Statement of the Problem

In order to mold children's habits, interests, attitudes, and sentiments and to convey social norms, culture, values, and traditions from one generation to another, the school has been founded as the agent of society. Despite this, some students continue to fail to show up for their lessons (Oehme and Franzke, 2002). Many of our adolescents are now fleeing from schools, despite the fact that their parents think they are in fact attending school lessons in many situations. While away from school, kids have the ability to engage in a variety of juvenile delinquent activities such as fighting and drug usage. This is a really concerning scenario in our educational institutions. Truancy is a concern because children who are absent are unable to take advantage of the numerous programs that the school provides them. Truancy has been linked to inferior academic attainment as well as delinquent and criminal behavior, according to reports. True, truancy is an important gear in the wheel of education and learning, and it has been demonstrated.

1.3Objectives of the Study

The general objective of this study is to an investigation of the causes and effects of truancy on the academic achievements of primary school pupils. Other objective is to:

i.          To examine the causes of truancy among primary school pupils

ii.        To find out the effect of truancy on primary school pupil academic achievement.

iii.      To evaluate the influence of peer group to the act of truancy in Primary school.

iv.      To recommend ways to curb truancy among primary school pupils.

1.4 Research Questions

i.          What are  the causes of truancy among primary school pupils?

ii.        What are the effect of truancy on primary school pupil academic achievement?

iii.      Does  peer group influence the act of truancy in Primary school?

iv.      What are the recommended ways to curb truancy among primary school pupils?

1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It is hoped that the result of this study will be useful to school administrators, as the study will examine the various causes and consequences of truancy and state the ways of curbing it which will serve as a vital instrument for effective school administration.

            The study will also give parents insight on how or why their wards engage in truancy. The study will also serve as reference point for students or researchers wising to embark on similar research of this magnitude.

1.7 Scope and delimitation of the study

The study will  examine the causes of truancy among primary school pupils. The study will also find out the effect of truancy on primary school pupil academic achievement. The study will further evaluate the influence of peer group to the act of truancy in Primary school. Lastly, the study will recommend ways to curb truancy among primary school pupils. Hence this study will be delimited to Ekiti State.

1.8 Definition of Terms

Truancy: The practice of staying away from school without permission. In

other words, it is the act of staying away from school without a reasonable excuse.

Academic achievement:  performance outcomes that indicate the extent to which a person has accomplished specific goals that were the focus of activities in instructional environments, specifically in school, college, and university

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