It is assumed that a student attending classes regularly and on a consistent basis reaps education benefits such as participating in class instruction, discussion, and other related learning experiences. It is also supposed to foster positive attitude, and exposes students to group interactions with fellow students and teachers.
Absenteeism, on the other hand, has long been identified as an educational, social, and juvenile issue worthy of public and private attention. It has been linked to many problem behaviors in adolescence, school failure, school dropout, and juvenile delinquency, among others.
This is also an indicator of other problems occurring for the youth including poverty, lack of family cohesion, child abuse or neglect, community violence, and behavioral and physical health problems.
The Department of Education has long been working to identify the best strategy for addressing truancy. Divisions are required to submit reports related to this problem to properly address the real reasons for non-attendance of students in school.
However, seriousness in addressing this problem should not stop in determining only the real reasons for truancy; prevention programs should also be given enough weigh of attention.
It is suggested that the government and private authorities should invest on a strategy utilizing best practices in solving the problem. To improve the chance of success, everybody concerned should focus on programs and approaches that have since demonstrated success.
According to Cooney & Eastman of Wisconsin University , there are two basic principles for effective truancy prevention and intervention programs: 1) Families, schools, and communities work together to set rules for school attendance and to enforce the rules quickly and consistently; 2) Schools are the places where students want to be.
Their research also indicates that the most effective prevention programs are comprehensive, and effective approaches never use sanctions that increase school absence.
Relevance of the program should adopt and adapt interventions tailored to the individual, and communication with parents should always occur in their preferred language.
The Tanjay City Division is not an exception to the problems brought about by truancy. It has always been one of the top priorities of concern addressed by the authorities managing the Department of Education Tanjay City Division. The Division hopes that it will succeed in battling this perennial obstacle to success. (Perygen R. Mariot, Secondary School Principal/Tanjay City Division)
