Reducing Absenteeism Of Students Through Caregivers Support

Abstract

This study was conducted to examine the role of caregivers in reducing students’ absenteeism among 1st year college students. This research adhered to the action research cycle, which encompasses four sequential steps: planning, action, observation, and reflection. Judgmental sampling technique was used to select the students and caregivers/parents. Only the students who were habitually absent in 1^st year section (H) from boy college and their parents were taken to participate in the study. The present study employed quantitative data collection and data analysis techniques. Descriptive statistics was run to calculate the percentage, mean, and standard deviation of the attendance data. A paired sample t-test which was conducted to compare the variance in attendance (February and March 2023). The mean difference in attendance between February and March was statistically significant, t (29) = -6.81, p < .001, with a mean difference of -5.26 (SD = 4.23), indicating that, on average, students attended fewer classes in February than they did in March. Overall results suggested a significant decrease in absenteeism from February to March. From a reflective standpoint, the intervention program was successful in increasing parents' awareness and involvement in monitoring their child's attendance, which led to a reduction in the number of absences by 37% and an improvement in overall attendance. Based on findings, it was suggested that colleges should establish clear expectations, communicate the importance of attendance with caregivers, provide online attendance records, encourage parent monitoring, arrange regular meetings, offer incentives for positive attendance, and use technology for effective communication between parents and teachers to promote regular attendance and parental involvement.