The persistence of truancy in the mist of adequate resources among junior high school students in Prempeh basic school at Kwadaso municipality in the Kumasi Metropolis

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to explore the persistence of truancy in the mist of adequate resources among junior high school students of Prempeh College Basic School at the Kwadaso Municipality. The objectives of the study were to find out parent-related factors causing truancy among junior high school students, determine teacher-related factors causing truancy among junior high school students and to establish media-related factors causing truancy among junior high school students of Prempeh Basic School in Kwadaso Municipality. Descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. The target population for the study was truant Junior High School students, teachers and parents. of the Prempeh Basic School. Multi-stage sampling was used to select truant Junior High School students, teachers and parents for the study. Purposive sampling was used to select truant students for the study while simple random sampling was used to select 14 teachers and 9 parents to participate in the interview section of the study. A total of 78 respondents consisting of 55 truants, 14 teachers and 9 parents formed the sample for the study. Questionnaire and interview guide were used to collect data for the study. The reliability test yielded Cronbach Alpha of 0.85. Data from the questionnaire were analysed with descriptive and inferential statistics while constant comparative method was used to analysis the data from the interview. The study found among others that parents inability to provide children the basic needs like uniforms and textbooks and poor socio economic status of parents made them skip school. Also, autocratic attitude of teachers and lack of interest of teachers in truants compelled students to exhibit truancy. Again, students who used electronic media negatively affected students’ studies and made them truant. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that parents should monitor their children on the use of electronic media to avoid its negative impact on the students’ studies leading to truancy among students.