Chapter I

INTRODUCTION

A well maintained attendance is the pride of students. Attendance is to indicate progression

and retention of students. When students attend school regularly, it shows learners achieve high

levels of education. To compare, irregular attendance of students affects academic performances,

and disrupts learning. The school attendance is not only a moral obligation but a legal requirement,

(Barrhead High School, 2013).

In other words, the absenteeism among the high school student has led to a more negative

effect such as low academic performance and many social problems, in regarding the relationship

between student absenteeism and academic achievements, student being absent miss opportunities

to learn the materials that enable learners to succeed later in school and, fall behind classmates in

academic achievement. (Adiguzel & Karadas, 2013).

All student for one reason or another, want to miss class at same points. A day in school, the

general tendency to engage in such unwillingness is referred to absenteeism, student absenteeism

has a complex nature, and the consequences of high level school absence is detrimental for

students.

According to Gottfried 2019, the students suffer academically from having absences, as it has

damaging effects on individuals missing out on classes. Absenteeism also has the potential to reduce

outcomes of students in a similar educational setting. For instance, determining the importance of

school attendance as the most vital instrument for students to achieve specific desires and ambitions

in life.
 In this study, we would like to explore the ideas, views and opinions of students of Science

Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) strand on school attendance, furthermore, we

will gather information of how the students value school attendance.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1) What are the views of STEM students on school attendance?

2) What do student feel when they are marked absent or late?

3) How does regular school attendance impact the academic performance?

SCOPES AND LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY

This research will cover the views in school attendance of (STEM) students, of Carmen

National High School-Senior High School (CNHS-SHS) being marked late or absent. The primary

subject of this research study will consist of the students enrolled in academic school year 2022-

2023. Moreover, this study will focus on how students feel about their attendance, and the impact on

academic performance. The study is limited to the Grade 11 and 12 (STEM) students’ views on

school attendance, marked late or absent.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study of attendance is significant for various stakeholders, including students, teachers,

school administration, parents and guardians, and future researchers.

STUDENTS: This can help the students learn about peers attitudes towards attendance and how it

affects the performance and social life, this understanding can help them develop better attendance

habit, leading to better academic outcomes.

TEACHERS: The study can provide teachers with insight into how to motivate stem students to

attend school regularly and address any negative perceptions that can discourage student from

attending.

PARENTS AND GUARDIANS: This study can help parents and guardian understand the significance

of regular attendance for stem students and how it can be an impact the learner’s academic and

career prospects.

SCHOOL ADMISNISTRATIONS: The study can be inform school administrators about the

importance of attendance for stem students and how it affects the school overall performance,

administrators can use the data to develop policies and initiative and that promote regular attendance

and address any attendances related issues that may arise.

FUTURE RESEARCHERS: It serves as a basis for future researcher in exploring the factors that

motivate for attending school regularly, the research will help to further improve attendance habit and

overand over all academic performance of STEM students.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

SCHOOL ATTENDANCE: Being able to come to school physically and attend classes, and other

activities.

ABSENT: Not able to come to school physically due to various reasons.

ABSENTEEISM: The practice of not coming to class without acceptable reason.

STUDENTS VIEWS: Opinion of a student based on his/her understandings.

LATE: Going to school past prescribe time. Failure to come to class as scheduled.

MARK:

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE:
 Chapter II

Review of Related Literature

This chapter presents the related literature and studies both from foreign and local source.

In traditional school-based learning, attendance was regarded as a proxy for engagement and key

indicator for performance. The relationship between attendance and academic performance in higher

education has been explored extensively for decades. The debate on whether it is necessary to

require mandatory attendance in secondary institutions has been going on concurrently . (Lu C. &

Cutumiso M. 2022). Attendance is essential so that they can become partners with school district

efforts (Attendance works 2014). According to someSome researchers like Doggrell, 2020. Hhold that

in-class attendance no longer matters for academic performance (Doggrell, 2020). On the other hand,

students who attend school regularly are able to learn more, have fewer discipline problems, develop

better study habits and often are more successful than students who do not (Fonda-Fultonville 2013).

Several studies have found that STEM students generally have positive attitudes towards attendance.

For example, a study by Kaur and Sidhu (2016) found that STEM students in Malaysia had a high

level of attendance and saw it as important for their academic success. STEM students attend school

for a variety of reasons, including the desire to learn, the need to meet academic requirements, and

the importance of attendance for future career opportunities (Kaur & Sidhu, 2016). There are also

several factors that affects attendance of STEM students: Including health issues, family
responsibilities, transportation problems, and lack of interest in school (Bartlett et al., 2018). In the

study of Jing Liu, Susanna Loeb (2021) High value-added to attendance teachers cab motivate

students to pursue higher academic goals. This positive effects are particularly salient for low

achieving and low-attendance students. To improve attendance among STEM students, school can

implement strategies such as providing support for students who are struggling academically,

offering flexible scheduling options, and communicating the importance of attendance to students and

their families (Barltlett et al., 2018). Based on the study of Klever (2013), one of the most important

things a student can do to achieve academic success is also one of the most basic: going to school

every day and being on time. . According to Bangor Christian Schools (2016), tardiness is recorded

as part of a students’ permanent attendance record. An article by Padegogical Research (2017), late

coming to school has become a major problem in many schools, particularly township schools with

serious consequences. Major administrative undertaken to improve the quality of learning and

teaching, it seems that very little attention is paid to late-coming. A student late to class sneaks in,

probably trying to not get caught by the teacher. Every other student’s attention is on the unfolding

scenario even after the student successfully or most likely unsuccessfully tries to sneak into the class

(Chris, 2023). As explained by Lukman D. (2021) Lateness to school is like a cancer that impedes the

development and hinders the achievement of academic goals. It has been observed that students’

lateness is on the increase of indiscipline. Fahmy F., (2021) Students missing in class wholly or in

part, fail to demonstrate engagement and are able to participate. Given the ‘Hands-on’ nature of this

course marks will be deducted for failing to attend class, joining late, or learning early. Likewise,

marks will be deducted for failing to complete assigned homework in timely manner. A study

conducted by Patnode, Gibbons, & Edmunds (2018) found that, a basic assumption of the education

system is that students regularly attend school. Students must be present and engaged to learn. For

both chronic absenteeism and consistent attendance, all absences: excused, unexcused, and

suspensions are counted. Chronic absenteeism focuses on the impact of missing school on student’s

school academic and social development. School attendance is a rising issue in public school.
Students regularly absent from school can end up involved in destructive behaviors and dropout of

school. Promoting attendance early in a student’s life can encourage attendance and maintain this

habit throughout his/her school career. (Connel et al., 2014). Torrena (2019) stated that, the Science,

Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) who could not help incurring minimal absences

due to valid reason hardly coped up with the present lessons.

Chapter III

Methodology

This section presents the research design, participants of the study, other source of data and
information, data gathering methods and plan for the data analysis.

Research Design

This research will utilize qualitative design using interview protocol. This research addresses
three research questions. Firstly is, “What are the views of STEM students on school attendance?”
Secondly “What do student feel when they are marked absent or late?” Lastly “How does regular
school attendance impact the academic performance?”

The research seeks to determine the views and ideas of the participants in Carmen National
High School-Senior High school, Grade 11 & 12 STEM strand, marked late or absent. This will be
determined through a one-on-one interview and focus group discussion (FGD) and analyze through
thematic coding analysis.

In this research, it will be a qualitative data analysis to understand and acknowledge facts or
assumption which will serve as the basis of claims. Moreover, we’ll also use thematic analysis in the
consolidate data as basis for the giving of conclusion.

Role of the Researcher

 In this qualitative research, the Role of the Researcher is to gather necessary data through
conducting interview and facilitating. Focused Group Discussion (FGD). The members of the group
will perform different roles in this endeavor. They will work together in identifying the participants of
the study. Each member of the group will act as data gatherer/documenter as the other facilitates the
focus group discussion.

Soon when data’s are collected, the researchers will transcribe, analyze and interpret the data
with assistance of the researchers’ adviser and teachers.

Research locale

The research will be conducted at (CNHS-SHS), the only structurally independent Senior High
School in the municipality of Carmen and even in the Division of North Cotabato. The school offers
both academic and TVL track. The academic track includes HUMMS, ABM, and STEM strands

The researchers choose this institution considering that the school is the only school offering
STEM strand in the municipality and that the study will be requiring responses from STEM students
grade level 11 and 12, consists of 170 students.

Participants of the Study

The participants of this study are grade 11 and 12 STEM strand consist of 17 students, from
the CNHS-SHS students. Among them will be randomly selected to undergo observation and one-on-
one interview to determine their views and opinions when marked late or absent.

Data collecting procedure

The first step prior to data collecting is to gather the participants and ask for their consent.
Upon the approval of the participants, the researchers would set schedule for the face-to-face
interview and focus group discussion. Then, the interviewer questionnaire will be sent to individual
respondents assigned. A different schedule would allot focus for the group discussion whom will
facilitate the different set of participants.

The data gathered from the interview and focus group discussion were analyzed and
interpreted thematically.

The findings would be reported in a summary report or research paper. The report will also
include an introduction, review of related literature, methodology, results, and focus group discussion
sections. The report will also include the views of STEM students when marked late or absent.