REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ON

ABSENTEEISM:

ITS EFFECTS ON THE ACADEMIC PERFOMANCE

OF SELECTED SHS STUDENTS

By:

Camarias, Joshua Collin G.

Dela cruz, Jason

Oro, Mylles Narcisse

Rabaria, John Manuel

Introduction:

Punctuality and regular attendance are essential for the proper operation of each year level

in the school. These important factors are taken into consideration for the upliftment of

learning outcomes among the students in the school. Maybe due to problems or during the

time of excessive absenteeism and or tardiness may result in disciplinary action. (Gina

Torres, 2016). Absenteeism in school is the habit of staying away from school without

providing a genuine or any reason for not attending classes. Absenteeism is a truant

behavior that negatively affects the performance among students. (Timothy Keter, 2013).

According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, absenteeism is "chronic absence." In the context

of school, it is the habitual or intentional failure to attend school. While every student may

miss some school activities now and then, absence becomes a problem when the student is

away from school for many days. Going to school regularly is crucially important for a

students education and social skills. Chronically absent students are at a disadvantage both

socially and academically. They miss out on critical stages of social interaction and

development with their peers, while simultaneously limiting their academic progress. This

can result in low self-esteem, social isolation, and dissatisfaction that could well have

precipitated non-attendance in the first place. (Loren Murcia, 2015). Absenteeism can be

defined as persistent, habitual, and unexplained absence from school (Brooks, 1997, as cited

in Bond, 2004). Bond noted that chronic absenteeism occurs when a student is absent

without reason 20% or more of school time; this nominal figure is consistently identified

regardless of the specific circumstances of the absenteeism. Bond identified three

dimensions of absenteeism: truancy,condoned absenteeism, and school refusal, whereas the

Auditor General Victoria (Australia, 2004) identified four major dimensions of absenteeism:

truancy, school refusal, school withdrawal, and early leaving. It is important to identify the

different dimensions ofabsenteeism in tackling the problem because they may require
differentinterventions. (Lorraine D. Cook and Austin Ezenne, 2010). Student absenteeism is a

serious issue in public education. Concerted efforts have been expended aimed at engaging

students and promoting active learning, but schools arestill full of clock -watchers Many

high schoolers regularly skip classes and, according to some inside reports, the hallways

are virtually empty some Friday afternoons. Student absenteeism is a major concern for

lecturers at institutions of higher learning. Absences create a dead, tiresome, unpleasant

classroom environment that makesstudents who come to class uncomfortable and the

lecturer irritable (Marburger 2001). Absenteeism disturbs the dynamic teaching-learning

environment and adverselyaffects the overall well-being of classes (Segal 2008). In quality

terms, absenteeism is awaste of educational resources, time and human potential. Student

absenteeism also causes rework and wasted time for lecturers (Lalek 1995; Rumberger

1997). Lecturers who spendclass time re-teaching lessons take instructional time away from

students who attend classregularly, and the extra time spent going over absentee

homework and class assignmentstakes time away from lecturer planning periods and time

needed to provide individualassistance (Weller 1996). According to Malcolm, Wilson,

Davidson and Kirk (2003) teachers identified effects of absenteeism on children as:

academic under- achievement, difficulty in making friends which could lead to boredom, loss

of confidence. Also, prolonged absence can have deleterious effects for the child in later life.

Students who are absent from school are at the greatest risk of dropping out of school early.
2.2 Review of related literature

1. Student Absenteeism: Whose Responsibility?

Predictors of absenteeism and truancy can be found inside and outside of the school

environment. Bimler and Kirkland (2001) indicated that there may be as many as 10

different 'hot spots' that can predict student absenteeism and truancy. These 'hot spots'

broadly include: school conditions; home-based behavioral issues; psychological issues;

family background; school-based behavioral issues; peer issues; as well as lack of motivation

or interest in school. These issues align with more recent reviews of literature regarding

student absenteeism, truancy, and school avoidance behavior (Kearney, 2008). As Kearney's

(2008) comprehensive review of literature related to school absenteeism and school refusal

behavior suggests absenteeism can be linked to physical conditions, psychiatric conditions,

classification and proximal variables, contextual risk factors, as well as cross-cultural

variables. Each of these variables has been shown to influence student attendance.

2. Causes and Structural Effects of Student Absenteeism:

Limited educational instruction is crucial to the success of any school to employ dedicated

teachers who are physically present to administer quality education to each student.

Excessive absenteeism by the teaching staff can drastically hinder the learning environment

and academic achievement of students when instructors are not routinely present to teach
them. When teachers are absent, schools must rely on substitute teachers to provide

instruction for the students. However, many substitute teachers may not be qualified to

provide quality educational instruction. Substitute teachers are not always required to

possess a teaching certification, and in some school districts they are able to teach with only

a high school GED. The loss of quality instructional time for students can result in unlearned

academic skills and objectives, and subsequent reduction in students' standardized test

scores. (Malikah Walters)

Poor Academic Progress -Schools cannot survive without physically present students.

According to the "Excessive Absences Intervention" research study by author Linda L.

Williams, excessive absenteeism by students may result in unlearned course material from

fewer hours of instruction, and a disruption of class instruction for teachers who have to

administer remediation for the absent student when he returns to school. Excessive

absenteeism by students may additionally result in poor academic achievement because

students are not receiving instruction on a consecutive basis. This problem also causes low

standardized test scores because absent students are not present to learn key concepts and

skills that are assessed on standardized exams. (Malikah Walters)

Future problems - Excessive student absenteeism can lead to an increasing disinterest in

school and academics in general. According to author Jason A. Schoenebergers

"Longitudinal Attendance Patterns" study, excessive absenteeism increases the chances of a

student eventually dropping out of school, which can lead to long term consequences for

these students, such as lower average incomes, higher incidences of unemployment, and a

higher likelihood of incarceration. Schoeneberger asserts that students who drop out of

school face a higher risk of poverty because of their inability to secure quality paying

employment due to their lack of education and resources. Dropouts who lack education and

resources are more likely to commit criminal activity leading to incarceration. (Malikah

Walters)
Decreased School Budget - Excessive absenteeism also places an extreme strain on the

school's budget, and allocated finances in each school district. Average daily attendance, or

ADA, is the average attendance rate of students in a school year. States utilize a school

district's ADA to determine the allocated funding it will receive. Schools may encounter a

decrease in funding due to a loss of full-time students. This limited budget due to excessive

absences causes a lack of educational resources and materials for the all the students in the

school. According to "USA Today," about one in three teachers misses more than 10 days of

school each year in the public school system. (Malikah Walters)

Absenteeism among students is a topic that has been thoroughly studied. However further

study of the causes of absenteeism among students will lead to better understanding.

Specifically, awareness of absenteeism among students should be studies in order to learn

what might be the other causes of absenteeism and ultimately will lead to better

understanding of how to reduce the cases of absenteeism.

3. An Analysis Student Absenteeism in selected SHS students

There are many causes and taking the responsibilities in student absenteeism in selected

SHS students.

There are government policy, institutions, educators, students, schools and parents that are

possibly responsible to student absenteeism, and there are limited educational, poor

academic progress, future problems and decreased school budget causing student

absenteeism.