SOCIOECONOMIC AND SCHOOL FACTORS CAUSING PUPILS’ ABSENTEEISM IN LOWER PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN MASABA SUB-COUNTY, KENYA
Abstract
Pupils who regularly attend school perform better in school than those who do not. Absenteeism from school makes pupils not to achieve their maximum. This paper presents results from a study that was conducted to explore the socioeconomic and school factors causing pupils to be absent from school in lower primary schools in Masaba Sub-county, Nyamira County in Kenya. The results from data analysis had shown that pupils’ absenteeism was an issue in lower primary schools in the sub-county and pupils’ were often absent from school on Monday and Fridays. Several socio-economic and school factors made pupils to be absent from school. The socioeconomic factors included: children staying at home to help parents in family business and lack of money for basic needs. The school factors included: Un-conducive school environment; and poor relationship with peers and teachers. The strategies that could be used to reduce pupils’ absenteeism from school include: Strict implementation of school rules, banning of unauthorized levies, and effective teaching.
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v0i0.877
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