The Contributing Factors to Student Absenteeism/Truancy and the Effectiveness of Social Services and Interventions
One major issue that schools are currently facing and seeing little or no improvement with is effectively dealing with student absenteeism and truancy. Despite early interventions, programs are still failing to effectively motivate students to attend school. This research study examines the success of an implementation of a perfect attendance award within an elementary school to increase student attendance. An examination of student attendance from the 2006-2007 academic year and from the 20072008 academic year, suggested that the perfect attendance certificate distributed monthly to students with no absences for that month is a positive motivator for students to attend school every day. The data from the months of September, October and November in the 2006-2007 year had a mean score of 54.5 and the 2007-2008 year had a mean score of 59.5, which indicated from an Independent Samples Test that the data proves to be statistically significant, thus the certificates accounted for increased attendance rates. Follow up surveys also provide evidence that the attendance certificates are an overall positive motivator for students and help to increase student attendance at one elementary school. Recognizing student’s strengths of attending school every day is a powerful tool of empowerment, and reduces absenteeism.
SCHOOL NON-ATTENDANCE: A STUDY OF ITS CAUSES AMONG HICH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN MASVINGO DISTRICT SECONDARY SCHOOLS, ZIMBABWE
The progress of a nation is very much dependent on the education of its citizens. One major issue schools are facing and seeing little or no improvement with is effectively dealing with absenteeism. Learners should be in school all the times for them to acquire and keep concepts taught.This qualitative studyaimed to explore the factors that lead to learner non-attendance in high schools. The case study design was employed since it is an in-depth study of a district within its real life context. Data was collected using questionnaires with 20 teachers and 10 learners.Interviews with 10 students and 10 teachers from high schools in Masvingo urban schools were held to establish factors which lead to school non-attendance among secondary school learners. The participants were purposively selected.The collected data established that risk factors associated withlearner absenteeism can be grouped into four main categories. It was discovered that the factors leading to school absenteeism emanate from the family, the school, the individual child and community. Under each of the four categories, various aspects related to the category were discussed. From these findings, the study recommends that parents should understand their responsibilities and be involved in their children’s work. Furthermore, schools should make efforts to involve parents to monitor their children’s absence and create friendly atmosphere for learners. The study also recommends future research on effects of absenteeism on student’s academic performance.
Palaeocarpinus (Extinct Betulaceae) from Northwestern China: New Evidence for Paleocene Floristic Continuity between Asia, North America, and Europe
Spiny-bracted fruits of Palaeocarpinus Crane, a genus of Betulaceae previously known only from Europe and North America, have been discovered in the Paleocene of Altai, northwestern China. The fruits are found in association with abundant Corylus-like foliage and staminate catkins containing Corylus-like pollen. Because of problems distinguishing leaves of Corylus from those of extinct betulaceous genera, we place these leaves in the genus Corylites Gardner ex Seward & Holttum. The fruits, staminate catkins, pollen, and leaves from Altai were probably all produced by a single species. Palaeocarpinus orientalis is nearly identical in its morphology to Palaeocarpinus joffrensis from the Paleocene of North America except in the more rounded primary bracts of the associated staminate catkins. The species is less similar to Palaeocarpinus laciniata from the Paleocene of southern England.