impact of economic environment on school attendance in kwabre district of Ashanti region

Abstract

The study was undertaken to find out the effects of the economic environment in Kwabre District of Ashanti Region and its impact on school attendance and the possible mechanisms that could be put in place to improve regular school attendance. The sample of the study consisted of students who obtained less than 30% of attendance, parents of such children and teachers and head teachers in the selected school. Two principal research instruments were used. These were interview schedule for students and their parents, and questionnaire for the teachers and head teachers. The study brought to light these major findings: Children who engaged in the economic activities especially the craft activities recorded low school attendance. Surprisingly, the study revealed that a substantial proportion of children stayed with their mothers only, hence the ease with which they play truant at school. It was also noticed that, boys outnumbered the girls in the case of absenteeism, because most of the economic activities they engage in are the crafts which in most cases are the preserve of men or boys. Poverty was also a hindrance to regular school attendance, as most of the children use the money they got from their engagement in the economic activities to supplement their family income. To improve attendance the under listed strategies could adopt: Adaption of craft activities as an integral part of the curriculum counselors to move round and talk to parents on the importance of formal education.