Action Research on Students' Absenteeism and Tardiness

G o v e r n m e n t P r i m a r y &

A l - A b b a s M i d d l e

S c h o o l B i a n g s a S h i g a r

2 1 - O c t - 2 0 1 3

Submitted by: Shabbir Ahmed

REDUCING ABSENTEEISM

AND TARDINESS AMONG

STUDENTS

AT

GOVERNMENT PRIMARY

SCHOOL BIANGSA SHIGAR

Report Action Research

THE AGHA KHAN UNIVERSITY

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER (PDC)

GILGIT BALTISTAN


Government Primary & Al-Abbas Middle School Biangsa Shigar | 1

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND ............................................................................................. 2

Reconnaissance ........................................................................................................................................ 3

Significance of the Study ......................................................................................................................... 4

RESEARCH QUESTION ........................................................................................................................ 4

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................. 4

DATA COLLECTION TOOLS ............................................................................................................... 4

POPULATION ......................................................................................................................................... 5

SAMPLING ............................................................................................................................................. 5

ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS OF FIRST CYCLE ................................................................................. 5

Unawareness of Parents............................................................................................................................ 5

Introduction of Snack Time in School ...................................................................................................... 5

Visit with Religious Scholar ..................................................................................................................... 6

Activation of SMC ................................................................................................................................... 6

Findings of First Cycle ............................................................................................................................. 7

ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS OF SECOND CYCLE ............................................................................ 7

Use of Pulpit ............................................................................................................................................. 7

Assigned Home Visit Duty of a Teacher .................................................................................................. 7

Formation of Mothers' Committee ........................................................................................................... 8

Displaying Latecomers' Name on the Notice Board................................................................................. 8

Task Delegation to Latecomers ................................................................................................................ 8

FINDINGS OF CYCLE-2 ........................................................................................................................ 9

CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................................................ 9

APPENDICES ........................................................................................................................................ 10

Time Table for Cycle 1 ....................................................................................................................... 10 Time Table for Cycle 2 ....................................................................................................................... 11 Interview Protocol for Students (Appendix A) ....................................................................................... 12

Interview Protocol for Parents (Appendix B) ......................................................................................... 13

Interview Protocol for Teachers (Appendix C) ...................................................................................... 14

Meeting Minutes/Agenda for Meeting with Staff (Appendix D) ........................................................... 14

(Annex E, Teachers' Interview, 9th July, 2013) ..................................................................................... 15

Annex F, Teachers' Interview, 9th July, 2013 ........................................................................................ 15

(Annex G, Monitoring the First Action Step, dated 1st July, 2013) ........................................................ 17

Annex H, students' interview dated 24-06-13 ........................................................................................ 18

Annex I, parent's interview, dated 01-07-13........................................................................................... 19

Annex J, Monitoring the First Action Step, dated 11-07-13 .................................................................. 20

Annex K, Meeting Minutes, Dated 11-07-2013 ..................................................................................... 21

Annex K-1, Students Attendance Register (Before Action) June 2013 .................................................. 22

Annex K-2, Students Attendance Register (After Action) Sep, 2013 ................................................... 23

Annex L, Office Order, Dated 16-08-2013 ............................................................................................ 24

Annex M, MSG Formation Resolution, Dated 10-7-2013 ..................................................................... 25

Annex N, Latecomers List, 17-6-2013(Before Action) .......................................................................... 26

Annex O, Latecomers List, 12-9-2013 (After Action) ........................................................................... 27



INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

Regularity and timely arrival plays a pivotal role in building school culture

and discipline. If the students and teachers of an institution are not punctual, the

school discipline is affected and also disturbs the schedule and work-plan of the

school mainly teaching and learning process, behavior of teacher towards student and

cause gaps among the stakeholders.

The area where I was intended to initiate an action research is a far furlong,

backward, underprivileged and illiterate environment where many school problems

including a burning issue of absenteeism and tardiness of students exist. It had been

observed that about 40% of students could not reach the school before morning

assembly, till at the end of the assembly, there were about 10% of the students still

missing. To discourage the late arrival practice, we, the teachers were used to punish

them corporally. When they were punished they tried to come in time for a few days

but most of them without having breakfast, untidy hair, and uniforms were not ironed.

The observation proved that it was not the solution and if the students are treated in

such a way for a long time it would bring gap between students and teachers which

caused poor performance, dropouts and harmful elements for the society.

Secondly the students' daily attendance ratio in my school was not more than

93% and during an academic session and some students' attendance did not cross 75%

of total possible attendance. In both the issues the major factor was their parents

because they did not timely prepare their children for school. Due to this, some

students were late for school, consequently the absenteeism problem increased in the

school.

Both the issues were problematic in school discipline as well as in learning

process, teachers' behavior, students' self-respect and confidence, relationship

between teachers and students, between students and parents, and teachers and

parents. This affected the learning of all the students and they could not pay full

attention on their studies and they could not enjoy their learning. When they were

mentally disturbed either of their own absent or late arrival or due to any other student

who was punished before them, they become anxiety. Besides these, the attitude of

teachers was also affected; they usually get aggressive and could not treat with the

learners joyfully. Consequently, it brought gaps among the stakeholders.



Reconnaissance

It is a good saying by someone, "Every hour misspent is lost forever, and

future years cannot compensate for lost days at this period of your life". Absenteeism

and tardiness were very common in my school. When we discussed about tardiness

and absenteeism in the staff, there rose some questions for instance why the vary

student arrives late, what his parents do, If the student is disturbed by someone in or

out the school, whether the parents pay due attention on the needs of their children or

not and do the parents care for the students' schooling or not? These questions leaded

to the causes for which students get school late or observe absent. There were several

responses for these questions, and it was general observation that parents do not care

for their children's schooling, they do not care for their children. When there were

some extra household job than usual, the parents made their children to stay at home

to do that particular job and if the mother had to go somewhere, she asks the elder

child to accompany her thus students get absent and such jobs are too common in

most of the rural areas.

The situation was much challenging for me to intervene, to improve students'

annual attendance rate, as well as to get them school in time. I have to change the

priority of the parents. I had to change their understanding about education and to

give top priority for the schooling of their children and to develop this understanding

was the most challenging task for me. Constrain that opposed the action research was

the aged people as they prefer high pasturing pet caring over education. Among these

constrains nothing was absolute if I do not ask them not to keep cattle and I did not

ask them not to keep cattle.

The social culture was sometimes challenging in such a way that the people

are illiterate and unaware. They did not understand the importance of education. Most

of the parents were educating their children as it has become a part of their routine.

The economic issue was also a problem.

I was intended to do an action research in my school to increase attendance

ratio and to discourage tardiness of students. Through this action research I tried to

regularize the students in their classes. This research involved the parents, notables,

SMC and teachers. In my action research I focus parents particularly mothers by

arranging sessions to motivate them to send their children to school in time and also

told them to ensure maximum attendance for their children in school. Through



sessions I made them realize the importance of being a student regular in school and

benefits of timely arrival which affect their personality.

Significance of the Study

The intended action research was a significant and beneficial study for certain

stakeholders. As an action researcher the changes and the processes done to undertake

the change improved my research practices and pedagogical practices. Changes in my

school on the basis of action research enabled me to understand my practices. While

doing action research I had to reflect and analyze my practices, causes for which the

practice was done and the effects of the intervention introduced, helped me during the

research as well as in my future practices to reflect my practices.

The activities improved teachers' attitude toward students while teaching and

in social activities. Teachers were motivated to change their attitude and to make the

classroom activities interesting and encouraging for the students. When the teachers'

attitude was changed positively, the classroom activities became interesting and the

students were encouraged and the learning process improved. The students started to

come to school to enjoy the learning. The students were given due respect, the

behavior of teacher towards students was friendly and caring. Thus the students

became confident enough to share their ideas.

RESEARCH QUESTION

For the purpose of my research, I developed a research question, which is

"How can I reduce absenteeism and lateness practices in my school?"

There rose some more questions as under from research question

What are the causes due to which students get late?

What strategies should I use to address these issues?

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The Action Research Approach was use to mainly as research methodology.

DATA COLLECTION TOOLS

Observation, meeting minutes, interview protocol, documents analysis and

reflective journals were used as source of collecting data in my action research work.

These sources provided me sound knowledge about the causes of happenings this

situation and also its effects in effective learning and teaching process as well school

discipline.



POPULATION

Students, their parents and teachers at Government Primary school Shigar

SAMPLING

9 students and 9 parents ( their parents) who were found observing

absenteeism and tardiness more frequently during the year and 3 teachers who were

found addressing this issue were selected for interview.

ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS OF FIRST CYCLE

Unawareness of Parents

My data explored that the main

reason of students' unpunctuality and

absenteeism found as unawareness of

parents and due to which they do not

prepare their children for school timely

as well as they do not give priority to

school's discipline and they don't give

importance to education. It was also

verified by another teacher during her interview. (Annex E & F, Teachers' Interview,

9th

July, 2013) Moreover, my reflection and observation proved these statements.

(Annex G, Monitoring the First Action Step, dated 1st July, 2013). To address the

issue I conducted sessions with parents to enhance their awareness about education

and importance of being regular at school. In this session 19 parents, all teaching staff

and students were present. Head teacher and chairman SMC addressed the audience

putting stress on regularity and punctuality of students in school activities.

Introduction of Snack Time in School

It was came to know

that some students come

without breakfast in the

school who are curios to

study while some students get late having

their breakfast at home due

to their mother's illness or



domestic engagement. (Annex H, students' interview dated 24-06-13, & Annex I,

parent's interview, dated 01-07-13) To ensure their attendance in time at school, I

introduced snack time at school with the collaboration of staff. For this purpose, I

reviewed time table and spared 30 minutes as snack time period. This was a

productive activity to overcome the lateness habit.

Visit with Religious Scholar

Imam e Masjid of the village is

the most prominent figure in the area so I

visited him to seek his cooperation in the

best interest of the community in

enhancement of education through

punctuality. In this connection I

requested him to use pulpits for the holy

purpose of spreading education with its

requisite standard and to motivate public in this regard. I shared the problem which

school was facing in term of late arrival and absenteeism of the students.

Consequently the students were facing difficulty and also caused of failure and

dropout from the school. On my request he addressed the public at different Islamic

historical events and also informal discussion and tried to motivate the parents

deliberating Islamic point of view. This activity proved a strong cooperation to

resolve the hurdle which my school was facing.

Activation of SMC

There is fundamental role of

SMC in my school as the members are

the founders of the school they are

providing remunerations for teachers

and bearing all the expenses so they

have to be focused on resource

generation and infra-structure due to

which their attention was not over this

issue. Therefore, I conducted a meeting with the SMC to get their attention on the

lateness and absenteeism issue which I was intended to overcome. (Annex J,

Monitoring the First Action Step, Dated 11-07-2013 & Annex K, Meeting Minutes,



Dated 11-07-2013) On my request the SMC members communicated with the parents

of late comers and absentees to reduce these practices. This activity was ascertained

much profitable in term of reducing absenteeism especially tardiness. (Annex K-1 &

K-2, Students' Attendance Register, June VS Sep, 2013)

Findings of First Cycle

At the end of cycle-1 of my action research work and detailed analysis, I came

to find the following major points:

Parents are not much awaked regarding rapidly changing world and need of

education.

Parents' attention is diverted towards business and mining and they do not give

priority to education

Health conditions of the villagers is found as barrier in absenteeism as whole

Sparing snack time proved somehow a solution in this regard

Religious scholars are beneficial in motivating parents

SMS can be utilized in solving issues relating to parents and community

ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS OF SECOND CYCLE

Keeping in view the analysis and findings of the cycle I arranged cycle 2 of

action research as some of my interventions were not as successful as it was expected

and some of them were very fruitful. The purposeful activities were carried on and

some other types of interventions made to overcome the issue.

Use of Pulpit

As discussed I cycle-1 that the religious scholar is most

prominent figure in the village and his sayings are considered

very valuable. Therefore, I found it very reasonable to active

the Molana in motivating the parent to give full attention of

their kids' education and to act upon school's rules and

regulations.

Assigned Home Visit Duty of a Teacher

A teacher was deputed to visit parent and report the changes in their attitude

on regular base and to realize them the barriers and hurdles rising due to late coming

in the school. The teacher frequently visited home of those students who were



habitually late comers and told the parents regarding school's intention regarding the

improvement of their children. This act was found as a major source to improve

students' attendance. (Annex L, Office Order, Dated 16-08-2013)

Formation of Mothers' Committee

It was explored during teachers' interview and also verified by personal

observation that mothers can play vital role in kids' education. A major caused was

explored through students' interview that the kids do not get breakfast in time that is

why they get late for school. To ensure students' preparation in time and also to play

supportive role in school activities, Mothers' Committee consists of 05 members was

formed in leadership of vice principal. (Annex M, MSG Formation Resolution, Dated

10-7-2013)The committee visited many parents informally and made aware the

parents to ensure students' attendance as well as timely arrival at school. Due to the

intervention of the committee, the attendance ration was rapidly enhanced.

Displaying Latecomers' Name on the Notice Board

Another major step was taken in this regard was displaying the name of

latecomers at notice board. This activity was proved as a strong source to assure the

arrival of students in time because when students saw their name as latecomer, they

felt their insult and tried their best to avoid this. (Annex N, Latecomers List, 17-6-

2013 & Annex O, Latecomers List, 12-9-2013)

Task Delegation to Latecomers

The encouragement of students by

delegating them specific tasks prove helpful source

in reducing late coming habit. The latecomers was

deputed to arrange assemble and morning praying

activities for next day. To perform their assigned

duties, latecomers were arrived in time. In this

way, it was found a strong strategy for timely arrival as well as enhancing leadership

skills.



FINDINGS OF CYCLE-2

At the end of the cycle-2, the following points were found as major findings

during my intervention to overcome lateness and absenteeism habit of the students:

Deputing a specific person to contact with parents was an effective way

Notables of the society can be utilized in school's activities

Mothers are the effective supporters in teaching and learning process

Students' habit can be changed without punishing them

Alternate ways can be used in discouraging students' ill-habits

Encouragement of students can change their life style

CONCLUSION

The institutions are run mainly with sound discipline and successful institution

has the rules and regulations are the super at all stages. Late arrival in the school and

remaining absent can damage the school's reputation and productivity badly. Both the

issues are problematic in school discipline as well as in learning process, teachers'

behavior, students' self-esteem and confidence, relationship between teachers and

students, between students and parents, and teachers and parents. Consequently, it

brings gaps among the stakeholders. The traditional way to discourage this habit had

been corporal punishment in the school but I was seeking alternative regarding this

habit and the course ADE: ELM enabled me to address this issue by doing an action

research through which I succeeded to enhance attendance ratio.

I have tried my best to overcome this issue through direct intervention by

involving students, parents particularly mothers, teachers, notables of the society and

religious scholars to put their share in this regard by developing a vision for the new

generation who are responsible citizens for upcoming competitive future.



APPENDICES

Time Table for Cycle 1

S.

No.

Stages Beginning and

closing time

Monitoring Durati

on

Comments

1 Meeting with

staff

17 June,13 Observation +

meeting minutes

01 day

2 Address with

the morning

assembly

18 June,13 Observation +

Document

Analysis

01 day

3 Sampling 20 June,13 Observation+

Document

Analysis

01 day

4 Students

interview

24,25,27

June,13

Observation +

interview

protocol

03

days

5 Parents'

interview and

session for

Parents

1,3,6 July,13 Observation,

interview

protocol

03

days

6 Developing

Interview

Protocol for

teachers

8 July,13

Interview

protocol

01

days

7 Interview and

session with

teachers

9, 10 July ,

July,13

Observation,

interview

protocol, minutes

02

days

8 Meeting with

SMC

11 July,13 Observation,

Minutes of

Meeting

01 day

9 Session with

Religious

Scholar

12 July,13 Observation,

Agenda of

meeting

1 day



Time Table for Cycle 2

S.

No.

Stages Beginning and

closing time

Monitoring Duratio

n

Comments

1 Classroom

Lectures

16, 14, 19, 20 &

21st August, 13

Observation +

Reflection

05 day

2 Address of

Molana with the

morning

assembly

22, 24, 26

August,13

Observation 03 day

3 Molana's speech

to public on

weekly dua

30 Aug,13 Observation 01 day

4 Awareness

Session for

women in three

groups

2,3,4 Sep,13 Observation +

Reflection

03 days

5 SMC's home

visit regarding

the issue

9,11,12 Sep,13 Observation +

Reflection

03 days



Interview Protocol for Students (Appendix A)

1) It is observed many students including you come to school late. In your

opinion why the students get late for school, be sure the discussion of this

interview will be confidential?

2) When do you wake up in the morning? When do you go to bed?

3) What time do you have your breakfast?

4) Do your parents help you in getting prepare for school, if yes, who?

5) What sorts of work you have to do before coming to school?

6) Whenever you get late for school, what do you feel?

7) When you late for school, do your father, mother or someone else goes to

school with you?

8) What type of excuses do you offer when a teacher inquires about lateness?

9) Do you know if a teacher tried to meet your parents? If yes what happened

then?

10) It also observed that some students including you get absent from school, why

does this happen?

11) In your opinion is the school starting time suitable for you according to the

context? If not what will you suggest?

12) Is the school and classroom environment joyful for you? Or do you enjoy the

schooling? If not, what is lacking in your opinion?

13) Which factor in the school culture attracts you towards school and which de-

tracks you away from school?

14) Will you suggest any change in school culture that will help to make the

school environment favorable for the students and help to reduce absenteeism

and lateness?



Interview Protocol for Parents (Appendix B)

The lateness and absenteeism is a usual practice in our school which is

affecting our school's quality and productivity. It is also disturbing the school general

discipline and teaching learning process. In our school there is no issue of teachers'

shortage or teachers' ability but the learning process is not being effective though

teachers usually do not miss any period and all the teachers are working hard. In my

personal opinion this situation is because of lateness and absenteeism of students.

Although there are many students committing lateness and absenteeism but it was

difficult and useless to invite all the parents for discussion so I selected only those

students and their parents who have committed lateness or absenteeism more

frequently for interview and discussion. Regarding your observations and suggestions

will be valuable for me to do my research effective and to improve the school's

efficiency and effectiveness. The discussion with you will be considered as

confidential.

1) In your opinion why your child/ children get late for school or absent?

2) Do you help your child/ children in getting prepare for school?

3) If no, what are the barriers?

4) If yes, what is lacking or need to improve?

5) Did you ever think about the losses of lateness and absenteeism of your child?

6) May I ask you about your behavior towards your children and other family members?

7) Generally students blame their parents, involving them in domestic jobs, for lateness and absenteeism, what do you say?

8) You know, getting late in the school is little bit a harmful indicator for future life, it become part of life and part of one's personality. What do you

understand about this? If committed, what steps will you take in future?

9) What is your perception about teachers' arrival in the school?

10) How often you engage your kids in household jobs and school tasks?

11) Do you share about your perception with your kids that why he/she is going to school? Why education? If yes, please share, if not please help to develop a

vision for your kids.

12) You know that today's student is tomorrow's leader. In which way we have to prepare them together?



13) The absenteeism proves a lot of losses for students. How will you overcome these losses after several days' absenteeism?

Interview Protocol for Teachers (Appendix C)

1. As you know that I am doing an action research to discourage absenteeism and late arrival of students in our school for which interviews from selected

students and parents have been taken. The third interview is to be taken from

the teachers. There for you are requested to respond these questions carefully

so that we may do some actions to discourage the said practices.

2. As you know that lateness and absenteeism are the burning issues in our school and is affecting the learning of students as well as the school discipline. What

do you think about this issue?

3. Do you get school on time/ in time or late?

4. In your opinion why students get school late or absenteeism occurs?

5. Some students say that they cannot understand some of the lectures. Why this happen and do you think that it affects the regularity of students?

6. From the interviews of students and parents I came to know that due to the illness of their mothers some students get late for school. Do you agree? If yes,

how?

7. The second thing I noticed from the interview is that join family system also affects the regularity of students. What do you say?

8. What will you suggest to discourage the absenteeism and late arrival practices in our school?

9. Do you feel any improvement in term of attendance and regularity of students

before and this day of action research? If yes, how will you describe this and if

not what is lacking?

Meeting Minutes/Agenda for Meeting with Staff (Appendix D)

Need of PTI Teacher

To Discuss on the issues related to teachers and students

To discuss about the construction of new classrooms



Annex E, Teachers' Interview, 9th July, 2013



Annex F, Teachers' Interview, 9th July, 2013



(Annex G, Monitoring the First Action Step, dated 1st July, 2013)



Annex H, students' interview dated 24-06-13



Annex I, parent's interview, dated 01-07-13



Annex J, Monitoring the First Action Step, dated 11-07-13



Annex K, Meeting Minutes, Dated 11-07-2013



Annex K-1, Students Attendance Register (Before Action) June 2013



Annex K-2, Students Attendance Register (After Action) Sep, 2013



Annex L, Office Order, Dated 16-08-2013



Annex M, MSG Formation Resolution, Dated 10-7-2013



Annex N, Latecomers List, 17-6-2013 (Before Action)



Annex O, Latecomers List, 12-9-2013 (After Action)

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUNDReconnaissanceSignificance of the StudyRESEARCH QUESTIONRESEARCH METHODOLOGYDATA COLLECTION TOOLSPOPULATIONSAMPLINGANALYSIS AND FINDINGS OF FIRST CYCLEUnawareness of ParentsIntroduction of Snack Time in SchoolVisit with Religious ScholarActivation of SMCFindings of First CycleANALYSIS AND FINDINGS OF SECOND CYCLEUse of PulpitAssigned Home Visit Duty of a TeacherFormation of Mothers' CommitteeDisplaying Latecomers' Name on the Notice BoardTask Delegation to LatecomersFINDINGS OF CYCLE-2CONCLUSIONAPPENDICESTime Table for Cycle 1Time Table for Cycle 2Interview Protocol for Students (Appendix A)Interview Protocol for Parents (Appendix B)Interview Protocol for Teachers (Appendix C)Meeting Minutes/Agenda for Meeting with Staff (Appendix D)Annex E, Teachers' Interview, 9th July, 2013Annex F, Teachers' Interview, 9th July, 2013(Annex G, Monitoring the First Action Step, dated 1st July, 2013)Annex H, students' interview dated 24-06-13Annex I, parent's interview, dated 01-07-13Annex J, Monitoring the First Action Step, dated 11-07-13Annex K, Meeting Minutes, Dated 11-07-2013Annex K-1, Students Attendance Register (Before Action) June 2013Annex K-2, Students Attendance Register (After Action) Sep, 2013Annex L, Office Order, Dated 16-08-2013Annex M, MSG Formation Resolution, Dated 10-7-2013Annex N, Latecomers List, 17-6-2013 (Before Action)Annex O, Latecomers List, 12-9-2013 (After Action)

Documents

Action Research on Students' Absenteeism and Tardiness