Patterns of Student Absenteeism in Addis Ababa Government Senior High Schools and Considerations for Containment
Abstract
Patterns of student absenteeism in government senior high schools of Addis Ababa for the 1997198 academic year
were investigated using discreetly selected attendance registers as well as questionnaire and interview. Analysis of attendance records regarding 754 female and 751 male students in 18 grade 9 to 11 sections of three schools, and the opinions of selected students and academic staff in the concerned schools identified comparatively higher rates of student absenteeism on Mondays (among weekdays), the afternoon shift (relative to the morning shift), April (among six months), the second semester (as compared to the first), males vis-a-vis females, and gth and 11th graders (in contrast to 1fih graders). Causes and possible remedial actions regarding the problem, including those forwarded by respondents, are assessed specially from the practical viewpoint.