Causes of Student Absenteeism

Causes of Student Absenteeism Absenteeism is a student behavior based on physical, psychological and social reasons and negatively affects student development. According to Gokyer, (2012) absenteeism or truancy is not only a symptom of students' negative feelings about school but also stems from various reasons. Absenteeism is usually based on missed school days, including excused and unexcused absences (Balfanz & Byrnes, 2012). Ubogu (2004) said illness, financial difficulties, age, social status, geographic area, teacher attitudes, weak school management, high education costs, and weather conditions can cause students to be absent. Mervilde (1981) also explained his opinion about the problems faced by students, namely family health or financial problems, poor school environment, drug and alcohol use, transportation problems, and different community attitudes towards education are all conditions that can cause a child to not attend school. The results of the study, which were conducted through direct interviews with BK teachers, parents and students, showed that several factors that cause student absence from school include; • Feeling lazy, • Having difficulty waking up in the morning, • Often staying up late at night, and • Having additional work at home. There are many sources of causes for student absence from school, both from within the students themselves (internal factors), for example due to low self-discipline and motivation to learn, and from outside the students (external factors), for example the school environment and social circles that are less conducive. The family environment is one of the external factors that may cause student absence from school. Sources of Causes of Student Absence There are many sources of causes for student absence from school. First, absence from the family environment. Sometimes a family supports the presence of students at school, and sometimes it does not. It can even happen that the family becomes an obstacle for students to attend school. The solution to student absences originating from such families is certainly more directed at curative steps for family life. a. According to Imron (1994:61-62), absences caused or originating from the family are as follows: • Both parents, both father and mother, are busy working. • There are religious activities at home • There are problems in the family environment. • There are emergency activities at home. • There is a death. Death in the family generally brings grief to the child. • The location of the house is far from the school. • There is a sick family member. • Uniforms are no longer available. • Lack of healthy food. This happens to students who are in areas of poverty. • Accompanying parents on vacation. • Parents move jobs. • Absences originating from the students themselves. This can happen, especially to students who are mentally unstable and lack supervision from parents or family. b. The absences that originate from the students themselves are as follows: • Forgetting not to go to school. This can happen, maybe because they sleep late at night so that the student wakes up late and accidentally the student in question forgets to follow the subject or is absent from school. • His morals are not good. • There is a fight between students. • Sick. • His achievements are weak. c. Absences that originate from the school The school is also perceived by students as not supporting their wishes. Therefore, their absence from school can also originate from the school environment. The sources of causes of student absence from school that originate from the school environment are as follows: • The location of the school is not pleasant. • Ineffective school programs. This happens because the curriculum used is not appropriate in utilizing the work program at school. Inappropriate school programs can affect the goals of the school and as a result, students are reluctant to go to school • Too few students enroll. Not a few schools lack students or learners, this can also have an impact on the students. • School fees are too expensive. • Lack of school facilities. • Lack of guidance from teachers, both individually and in groups, to students. • The programs offered by the school to students are not interesting. • The school atmosphere is not conducive. Based on the description above, it can be concluded that the factors causing student absence from the learning process at school consist of: a) Factors from within the student, for example perceptions about attendance, self-discipline, and low learning motivation b) Factors from outside the student, consisting of family factors, social environment, and school environment. Efforts to eradicate the problem of student absence originating from family factors certainly require the role and involvement of the family itself to work together to find the best solution. However, if the causal factor is suspected to be from within the student, then individual counseling services or individual assistance seem to be an option.