Factors contributing to truancy in secondary school students of muhyiddin school / Sobeeha Abdul Latheef

Abstract

Researches on the factors contributing to truancy in students suggest that a variety of factors related to the school background and family background contributed to truancy. These researchers also identify factors related to the child and community in influencing truancy. This phenomenological study investigates the contributory factors of truancy in secondary school students of Muhyiddin School. Data were collected using one to one semi-structured interviews in which students, parents, teachers and school counselor shared their experiences. Consistent with the findings of previous researches on truancy, the findings of the current study revealed that a number of factors affected the students' decision to be truant. Several aspects with regard to their home, their school, their personality, and the community were found to be influenced by truancy in secondary students. The research also discusses the implication of these findings and suggests recommendations for future research in the area of student truancy to school.
Keywords: truancy, truants, secondary students