Training Teachers And Parents On How To Minimize Truancy Challenges Among Basic School Pupils Of Savelugu West Circuit Of The Ghana Education Service

ABSTRACT

The researcher after critically observing basic school pupils’ attitude towards school attendance in a considerable period of time noticed that some pupils skip class without permission in the West Circuit of Savelugu Nanton Municipality. This necessitated further inquiry about the causes, effects and possible ways to remedy the situation. The design employed to carry out the research was action research. The sample that represented the population of six hundred and thirty two (632) was made up of ninety (90) pupils/truants selected through stratified random sampling, fifteen (15) teachers sampled through purposive sampling and forty five (45) parents of truants sampled through stratified random sampling. The instruments used to collect data were observation and questionnaire afterwards, the data was analyzed using tables and charts. The findings that emerged from the study revealed some factors that cause truancy. These factors are irresponsibility of some parents pushed some pupils to cater for themselves. Some parents had no time for their wards hence had little interest to check on their attendance and punctuality, some of the teachers resorted to punishment rather than counseling to curb truancy challenges hence pupils escaped from class to avoid being punished. Some of the truants were lured by friends to go in for menial jobs like plucking and selling shea nuts, and dawadawa fruits to mention but a few. Appropriate implementation and various intervention strategies were employed to minimize the challenges. The study recommended among others that teachers should improve the monitoring and supervision of pupils’ attendance. Parents must take up the responsibility of providing for their wards school needs and follow up to monitor their progress in school. Students should be sensitized on the need to be punctual.