ACTION RESEARCH ON

FACTORS AFFECTING ABSENTEEISM

AMONG SELECT GRADE 7 STUDENTS
AND PARENTING SEMINAR FOR
ABSENTEES OF MAIGO NATIONAL
HIGH SCHOOL

SUBMITTED BY Teacher-Researcher:
ALLELI FAITH P. LEYRITANA

Teacher
MAIGO NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
MAIGO, LANAO DEL NORTE
I. Context and Rationale of the Action Research
CONTEXT AND RATIONALE:

One of the most frustrating situations to most educators and classroom

teachers is when they try so hard to provide the education that students need
but these students are always absent. Teachers prepare lesson plans, colorful
instructional materials and all other things that will help the students learn
conducively but sadly, some of the students are always either tardy or absent.
In present times, there is a difficulty in achieving perfect attendance because
no matter how interesting and well-prepared teaching materials are, there are
students who are likely to miss out on the day’s activities- willingly or
unwillingly. Absenteeism also affects the teacher’s ability to present classes in
a sequential and organized way. This can have an effect on the progress of all
the students in class. Moreover, the teacher will have a limited time to be in
contact with students with difficulty in their lessons because most of them
may be absent.
Absenteeism is also the topmost problem in Maigo National High School.
Maigo National High School today has a population of 1,140 students, 42
faculty members and 11 staff. It is located at the heart of Maigo, Lanao del
Norte. The number of Grade 7 students reached to 355 as the total population.
But sadly, almost half of the population of the Grade 7 students are always
absent from class.
The researcher handles English Grade 7 to 4 out of 5 sections, so, she
finds absenteeism as the major problem in relation to their academic
performance. Even the advisers are almost giving up the hope that there is a
solution to this problem. Home Visitation is only effective after the teacher has
visited the absentee student’s home and having approached their respective
parents, but a few weeks after the visitation, the students continue being
absent, hence, missing out on learning what they should have gained if only
they were present in class. The researcher herself has been witness to this
condition. Hence, there is a need to something else, something that will
motivate the students to go to school and attend classes regularly.
School absenteeism in Maigo National High School has reached a crisis
point, primarily because it has been linked to school drop-out rates, which at
the higher level has reached the average of 30% for the Grade 7 students only,
based on the reports from the Teacher-in-Charge, Ms. Wendy Labastilla, of the
Form 3 or the School Movement and status form. This means that even in the
lower grade levels of students enrolled in Maigo National High School, more
and more students are already in the list of those who commit chronic
absenteeism and in some cases, truancy.
Additionally, based on the School Registers or School Form 1 presented by
the Classroom Advisers of the Grade 7 Students in Maigo National High
School to the proponent of this research, there is a great deal of increased
number of students who are always absent which can affect their academic
performance. Moreover, based on the information given by the Guidance
Counselor of whom the proponent interviewed on the major problems of Maigo
National High School, Mrs. Elena Labajo, said that absenteeism rates the
number one problem. Mrs. Labajo also showed the result of the Summative
Tests this Grading period given to the students who were always absent
showed that they (the absentee students) had poor academic performance
because their exam results were low than those who come to class frequently.
The 1987 constitution mandates that the state shall give priority to
education, Science and technology, Arts, Culture, and Sports, to foster
patriotism and nationalism, accelerate social progress and promote total
human liberation and development; the citizens have the right to quality
education which should be accessible to all; it requires the establishment and
maintenance of free public education in both elementary and high school
levels. Sadly, these aims and goals of the constitution have been, in some ways
not honored by the students who commit so many absences. This is the
current problem of Maigo National High School today.
II. Review of Related Literature
Theory of Ego Processes in relation to absenteeism in school

The theory central to this study is Norma Haan’s Theory of Ego

Processes. Haan (1977) postulated that there are certain generic ego processes
(coping, defense and fragmentation) that can be used for adaptation. These
processes can be used consciously in order to adapt to and/or change the
situation as it is, with awareness of what one is doing and why; such conscious
processes are classified as coping.
Defense is a method of adaptation or self-protection that involves
“unyielding fortification” of beliefs or behaviors; while fragmentation is a form
of adaptive “failure”. Optimally, the individual copes with adversity and
maintains self-consistency. Less optimally, the individual defends against
internal and external threats to self-integration. And in time of extreme stress
when the maintenance of self-consistency is precarious, fragmentation ensues.
Further, according to Haan, an individual “constructs” a response to his
environment, rather than “reacting” to it. As cognitive development proceeds,
the individual is able to respond to internal and external stresses in an
interestingly sophisticated and adaptive manner. (Martz and Livneh: 2007)
Haan in this theory suggest that defense operates on a preconscious level and
are not inherently conscious or unconscious in nature. The individual is an
active and rational agent in constructing his/her response to the environment.
According to The Free Dictionary (2003), some students are "de-
motivated to come to the school and the young ones who find it extremely
difficult to get up early in the morning" are some of the causes of the
phenomenon of either absenteeism or tardiness. This can affect their learning
since students who frequently skip classes are missing out from what they can
learn. Sometimes, students skip classes because they have been coming to
school on time or primarily not being present in the time set by the school.
Kirkpatrick, Crosnoe and Elder (2001) educational psychologists, stated
that school tardiness and absenteeism accelerate if the students are not
committed to their school. In an earlier study, Osterman (2000) reached at the
same conclusion, vigorously stating that if students are not at home in their
school environments, they prefer to be absent or become tardy at school.
Beards George, 1981 asserts it as “A delay in few minutes might delay the hope
of lifelong learning”.

III. Research Questions

This study further answers the specific questions as follows:
1. What are the common causes of absences committed by the Grade 7
students?
2. What are the effects of absenteeism?
3. What are the possible ways to minimize this situation among students
of Maigo National High School?

IV. Scope and Limitations of the Action Research

The study will be conducted within the classes of sections Diamond,
Amethyst, Sapphire and Emerald. This group of student belongs to the K+ 12
Curriculum Program of Maigo National High School. The total of this group of
respondent- students for these sections from Grade 7 is 147, with 72 who are
male and 75 who are female. Alarmingly, almost half of the Grade 7 students
have committed more than 20 days of absenteeism.
Information acquired and provided by students will be used to confirm or
negate the possible causes of absenteeism. The result of the survey will then
contribute insight in planning and drafting of the solutions in addressing the
said problems being identified that needs appropriate action.
An Action Plan or Intervention Plan for this problem will be the final output
of the said research to be implemented upon approval of the School
Administrator.
The researcher will use a sampling method with inquiries which is not
answerable by yes or no. The researcher arbitrarily selects this group of
students for they well represent a typical student which his/her primary aim is
to learn and excel in school.
Time Frame of the Study: This study will be conducted from February to
March of 2016. This is because these months are the most crucial months
determinant of whether or not students will be able to qualify to promotion to
the next grade level or if the student performance of the Grade 7 students will
be enough for them to move up one level higher.

Locale of the Study: The locale of the study is Maigo National High School,
located in Purok Labu-ay, Maigo, Lanao del Norte. The population of the school
or the total number of students in this school is 1,146 students as of June
2015. There are 42 teachers and 11 Office staff or Administrative Officers in
Maigo National High School. There are 13 Grade 7 teachers all in all, in all
subjects.

V. Methodology
All of the 65 Grade VII students (from sections Diamond, Sapphire,
Amethyst and Emerald) will be asked to complete a questionnaire. They will be
rated through various situations, reasons, and causes for being absent from
school. All of the data will then be organized, tallied, tabulated, and presented
in a series of tables and graphs. Frequency counts, percentage weight values
and weighted mean will be used in the analysis and interpretation of data.

The responses will be analyzed using a five-point Likert scale with the
following equivalent:

 1. never
 2. rarely
 3. sometimes
 4. very often
 5. Always
 It should be noted that the questionnaire will be given to students in
their native dialect to increase the chance of accurate responses.

Figures will be rounded signify classification of responses. The measure

of central tendency, specifically the mean, will be used to determine the
average value of response or response average of the students.

VI. Work Plan

The researcher will have conduct a survery among Grade 7 students of
Maigo National High School. This will be done during free time or recess or
snacks time in the morning or at exactly 10 in the morning.
Then the teacher will conduct interviews to parents to find out how they
motivate their children in going to school since most of the parents of those
absentee students show no care to their children or are unaware that their
children are not in school but always present in computer shops. Moreover, the
researcher will be having a Seminar Workshop on Parental Involvement to the
parents for them to always monitor their children if they come to school or not.
This seminar workshop may help solve the current problem. The seminar
workshop will allow parents to be more updated on the whereabouts of their
children or the activities that their children miss in case they are absent.

Timeline
Tasks: Beginning/Ending Resources/ Budget:
Seminar Workshop to parents to get February 3 and March4, 2016
themselves involved in the academic Token to Guest Speaker
performance of their children (Php 500.00)

Photocopies of Activity Worksheets

Php 50.00
Give absentee students “Make up” Everyday starting February 20 to No budgetary requirements,
classes March 28, 2016 Learning Module for the
“Distant” learners are
available at the Maigo
National High School Library
Expected Outcome:

The students and parents will gain understanding on valuing education

more than their hobbies or more than any other thing. There will be minimized
absenteeism among Grade 7 students.
 OUTCOME:

The parenting seminar conducted for the parents of those who are
considered as absentee students became effective.

Out of 60 students who are considered as habitual absentees, there are

only 25 who were retained and did not show up in regular classes. Parents who
attended the parenting seminar became enlightened as to the importance of
their guidance to their children to have a positive outlook in education and in
continuing their studies. The parents were also cooperative enough in
monitoring their children’s attendance in school.

Moreover, the school (Maigo National High School) was glad that the
parents accepted the challenge of guiding their children for the latter’s better.
The parents were able to have coordination with their children’s advisers in
monitoring their children’s academic performance and exam returns.

Photo was taken during the Parenting Seminar conducted on August 15,
2016 with the Faculty and Staff of Maigo National High School.
 References

Article XIV, Sec. 5, paragraph 5 of the Philippine Constitution.

Free Dictionary (2003). Definition of “Absenteeism” in the context of Studies.

Haan, Norma. (1977). Coping and Defending: Processes of Self-Environment

Organization . Personality&Psycho-pathology Monographs . Academic
Press. ISBN: 012312350X

Johnson, Monica Kirkpatrick, Robert Crosnoe and Glen H. Elder Jr. (2011)
“Insights on Adolescence from A Life Course Perspective”. US National
Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

Martz, E., & Livneh, H. (Eds.). (2007). Coping With Chronic Illness and
Disability: Theoretical, Empirical, and Clinical Aspects. New York:
Springer. 430 pp.
Osterman, Karen F. ( 2000) “Students' Need for Belonging in the School
Community”. Review of Educational Research. American Educational
Research Association. Doctorate Dissertation