Poverty and absenteeism of primary school pupils of Mvomero district, Tanzania
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Date
2009
Authors
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
It was reported by Regional Education Officer that about 30% of total pupils enrolled in
Mvomero District primary schools do not complete Standard seven due to chronic
absenteeism. The overall average pupils’ attendance to school was 68% of total school
days (198) per term in year 2006. The general objective of the study was to assess the
association that existed between poverty and absenteeism of primary school pupils in the
study area. Specifically, the study sought to measure attitude of pupils towards education
in the area; identify the income and non income poverty variables which contribute to
absenteeism and describe relationship between poverty and pupils’ absenteeism. 120 pupils
stratified into two groups of regular attendees and regular absentees were selected. Survey
design employed, and stratification, purposive and random sampling methods was used.
The schools were Kipera, and Mlali, of Mlali Ward; Miembeni, and Mvomero of Mvomero
Ward. The questionnaire, interview schedule, documentary review and check list were
employed to collect data.the data was analysed by SPSS in which frequency distribution,
cross tabulation, likerty scale and logistic regression model used assess the relationship
with independent variables. The correlation between independent variable was significant
at 91.3% The results found that, pupils from poor housing condition attending schools low
income and large family sizes were five, one, and 0.05 more times likely to be absentees
than their counterpart group The factors associated with absenteeism were all those factors
associated with low socio-economic status and hence explaining the linkage between the
household socio-economic conditions with increased rate of absenteeism observed among
pupils. Therefore, it is recommended that improvement of socio-economic statuses of the
parents could help alleviate the problem of absenteeism of pupils
Description
Dissertation
Keywords
Poverty and absenteeism, School pupils, Education Officer, District primary schools