Do family characteristics predict student absenteeism?

Abstract

This study sought to examine the relationship between family characteristics and Junior High School students’ absenteeism in selected schools in the Asante Akyem Central Municipality of Ghana. A total of 408 students were included in this study. This study accentuates the instrumental role that family ties, parents’ economic status, mothers’ income and parents–teachers’ association meeting attendance play in influencing students’ absenteeism. For example, the study found that mothers’ level of income negatively predicted the number of times students absent themselves from school in a term. As mothers’ income increases, the number of times students absent themselves from school decreases. Understanding the significant role family characteristics play in student’s school attendance is vital for promoting students’ attendance and school engagement. Implications for policy and practices are discussed.

Keywords:

• Family characteristics
• Ghana
• School attendance
• school improvement
• students’ absenteeism

Disclosure statement

Conflict of interest: No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research received no funding.

Notes on contributors

Charles Anim

Charles Anim is a Circuit Supervisor in the Ghana Education Service. His current research interests are Students’ Absenteeism, Teacher Education, and STEM Education.

David Baidoo-Anu

David Baidoo-Anu recently completed his PhD at the Faculty of Education, Queen’s University, Canada. His current research focuses on promoting equitable education and learning experiences for underrepresented groups of students through culturally responsive classroom assessment.

Kenneth Gyamerah

Kenneth Gyamerah is a PhD Candidate at the Faculty of Education, Queen’s University. His current research interests are Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Pedagogies, STEM Education, Decolonizing Education, Teacher Education, and Comparative and International Education.

Williams Agyemang-Duah

Williams Agyemang-Duah is a PhD Candidate at the Department of Geography and Planning, Queen’s University. His current research interests are Public Health, Health Services Research, Population Aging, Informal Caregiving, and Human-Environment Interactions.