Determinants of absenteeism among ordinary level secondary school students in Uganda

Abstract

The study assessed the factors that explain absenteeism among Ordinary Level Secondary school students in Uganda using Wakiso district as a case study. The motivation to carry out this research was as a result of increased absenteeism among Ordinary Level Secondary school students despite the introduction of Universal Secondary Education. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative methods. The analysis was done at three levels, that is, at Univariate analysis, Bivariate and Multivariate analysis. The research found out that 46.85% of the students missed school because of sickness and chronic illness. The common sickness noted was malaria followed by Fever, Headache, flue and cough. The research further found out that 64.5% of the students reside more than 2 km more from the Secondary school. The researcher also found out that students whose residence is more than 2km from their school are more likely to be absent from school compared to their counter parts who reside in a range of lesser distance. Most students have secondary level as the highest level of education attained by their household head. The researcher also found out that highest education level attained by household head has an effect on secondary school student’s absenteeism The study recommends that government through the MoES should make sure that parents understand their responsibility of contributing towards the development of the school and state department of education, and school districts need to regularly measure and report the rates of chronic absenteeism and regular attendance for every school. District policies need to encourage every student to attend school every day and support school, communities, and parents in using evidence-based strategies to act upon these data to propel all students to attend school daily