THE EFFECTS OF ABSENTEEISM TO THE ACADEMIC

PERFORMANCE OF GRADE 9 STUDENTS IN MOISES D.

FERNANDEZ SR. PIONEER HIGH SCHOOL, INC. S/Y 2024-2025

A Research Paper Presented to

The Faculty of the Senior High School

Moises D. Fernandez Sr. Pioneer High School

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

for Practical Research 2

Noli C. Alarcon

Jill Sigrid Alfon

Jordan M. Bolima

Hazel B. Cronico

Daniela M. Dacaya

Arbie D. Peñero

John Carlo G. Pomar

December 2024
 Chapter l

The Problem

Introduction

Absenteeism can be defined as persistent, habitual, and

unexplained absence from school Leasly (2015) defines
absenteeism as a period when a student does not attend school
will generally fall behind their classmates in their academic
success.

Indeed, numerous studies conducted to answer question

that is why atodents miss classes Leusly (2015) added that
there are numerous risk factors that contributed to student's
absenteeism such as family health, low income, poor school
cimate diug and alcohol use transportation problems, and
community attitude fowards educabon Pentivan (2015) found that
the major reason by students for non-attendance at lecture for
school were bored at school deslike of school, encouragement
of trend arid lack of expectation about education.

With these, researchers had also observed numerous

students who had failed Ther subjects because of thequard
absenteejam. The researchers would like to determine the
effects of absenteeism to the performance participation and
social relationship of the students with each other.

Researchers are prompted to conduct the study about the

effects of absenteeism to the academic performance of the
Grade 9 Student of Moises D. Fernandez Sr. Pioneer High School
this problem in order to lessen the possible number of
students who come up. The researchers wanted to further
understand the students so they could minimize ther absences
not eradicate it completely.

Background of the Study

Being absent can affects the students ability to get high

scores in examination which can cause the decreasing of grades
or the student may fail and will cause him/her to repeat the
same year level. Students who have spent time attending
lectures or classes have a significant, positive effect on
students performance. Students that participated exhibited
higher grades and score in examinations of the student. The
difficulty inferring the effect of absenteeism on performance
because, once a student is absent in a class, he or she may
miss the opportunity of learning other technique. Absenteeism
in school is the habit of staying away from school without
providing a genuine or any reason for not attending classes.
Absenteeism is a truant behavior that negatively affects the
performance among students.

Regular attendance is an essential feature in school

success. Students who are chronic non-attenders receive fewer
hours of instruction as as compared to those who regularly
attend classes. Sadly, they often leave education early and
are more likely to become unemployed, homeless, caught in
poverty trap, dependent on welfare, and involved in the
justice system (Sanchez, 2015). In the most cases, student
absenteeism affects even the regular attenders, since the
teacher accommodate non-attenders in the same class.

Statement of the problem

Specifically, it seeks to answer the following questions:

1. What is the demographic profile of students?

1.1. Gender

1.2. Age

1.3. Year/Grade level

2. What is the assessed impact of absenteeism in terms of?

3. What can be the action plan to lessen absenteeism of

students?

Assumption

1.1. Gender

1.2. Age

1.3. Year/Grade level

2.1. Failing Grade

2.2. Low Grade

2.3. No learning
3.1. Write Attendance Policy

3.2. Reward Good Attendance

3.3. More Activities

Hypothesis

Ho1:There is a significant between absenteeism to their

academic performance.

Ho2:There is no significant between absenteeism to their

academic performance.

Scope and delimitation

The focus of this study was determine the effects of

absenteeism towards the academic performance of the Grade 9
Students of Moises D. Fernandez Sr. Pioneer High School. This
study was conducted on the first semester of the school year
2024-2025.

Significant of the Study

Students: The students will realize how absenteeism can affect

their performance in school. They can evaluate what are the
consequences of absenteeism.

Teachers: They're the one who are capable in guiding their

students towards the effect of absenteeism in performance of
school. It response in advising their students in a positive
way since, teachers are the second parent in school.

Parents: It is imperative for parents to understand the

impacts and cause of absenteeism in order to spot problems
areas and provide support to their child.

Future Researcher: It will create new theories that will serve

as basis for the future researchers of this topic.

Definition of Terms

Absenteeism: It refers to the habit of staying away from

school without providing a genuine or any reason for not
attending classes. A truant behavior of some student that
negatively affects the performance among students.
Academic: It refers to the concerns and influence a student's
performance in the classroom negatively. It provides the
following that can affect the performance of student;
attendance, participating in performing school
works/activities and the capacity of student acted in school.

Student: A person who attends a school, college, or

university. A person who studies something.

Performance:the act of doing a job, an activity, singing a

song or acting in a play that a person or a group does to
entertain an audience.

Effect: a change which is a result or consequence of an action

or other cause.

Impact: Have a strong and often bad effect on (someone or

something).

Significant: sufficiently great or important to be worthy of

attention; noteworthy.

Truant: a student who stays away from school without leave or

explanation.
 Chapter ll

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND RELATED STUDIES

This chapter shows related literature and studies from

both local and foreign in various sources that support the
research's assumption regarding the subject matter. It
discusses significant insights and substance to help further
the present problem studied.

Related Literature

Foreign

In the United States, absenteeism has been extensively

studied for its impact on academic achievement. Chang & Romero
(2008) found that chronic absenteeism (missing 10% or more of
school days) is a strong predictor of lower academic
performance, especially in elementary school, where
absenteeism directly affects early literacy and numeracy
skills. Similarly, Gottfried (2010) showed that even moderate
absenteeism negatively impacts standardized test scores in
reading and math, with the effects worsening in later grades.

In the UK, absenteeism is strongly linked to socio-

economic factors. A report by the Education Policy Institute
(2017) revealed that students from lower-income families, who
are more likely to miss school, tend to perform worse on
exams, such as GCSEs. Ramsay et al. (2015) also found that
even moderate absenteeism (missing 5-10% of school days)
negatively affected students' academic outcomes in core
subjects like English and mathematics.

In Australia, absenteeism is linked to poorer performance

on national standardized tests like NAPLAN. Shepherd et al.
(2015) found that students who missed more than 10% of school
days performed worse in key areas such as literacy and
numeracy. Watt & Roorda (2016) further confirmed that
absenteeism, particularly in the early years, hampers both
academic and social development, leading to disengagement from
learning.

Research in South Africa shows that absenteeism is a

significant barrier to academic success, especially in under-
resourced schools. Du Plessis & Muller (2017) highlighted that
absenteeism in rural South African schools was associated with
lower performance in academic assessments, while Nelson &
Smith (2018) found that absenteeism in urban schools was also
linked to higher dropout rates.
 In India, absenteeism negatively affects academic
performance, particularly in government schools. Desai & Lamba
(2018) found that students in rural areas who missed a
significant number of school days performed poorly in core
subjects like mathematics and language. Similarly,
Bhattacharya & Muralidharan (2016) showed that absenteeism is
linked to disengagement from learning, which leads to lower
exam scores.

Local

In the Philippines, absenteeism is recognized as a major

factor affecting students' academic performance, particularly
in public schools. Santos & Ibay (2015) conducted a study in
Metro Manila, showing that students who had high absentee
rates scored lower in their final exams in mathematics and
science. Their study also highlighted that absenteeism was
often related to socio-economic factors such as financial
instability, family responsibilities, and lack of
transportation.

A study by Garcia & Tan (2017) in rural schools in the

Philippines found that absenteeism was particularly high among
students from low-income families. These students were more
likely to miss school due to work obligations, lack of school
supplies, or family issues. The study concluded that
absenteeism in these communities was directly related to lower
academic achievement, particularly in subjects like English
and mathematics.

In another study, Puno & Rivera (2019) examined the

academic performance of high school students in Cebu and found
a clear correlation between absenteeism and poor academic
outcomes. Their research indicated that students who missed
more than 10% of school days had significantly lower grades,
particularly in subjects that required continuous learning and
participation, such as mathematics and science.

Research by Luz & Mendoza (2020) in a local university

context revealed that absenteeism affected college students'
performance in both major subjects and general education
courses. Their study showed that students who missed classes
frequently scored lower in quizzes, projects, and final exams.
They also noted that absenteeism led to disengagement and a
lack of motivation, which further contributed to academic
decline.

A study by Bautista & Tanyag (2018) explored the

relationship between absenteeism and dropout rates in public
elementary schools. They found that chronic absenteeism, often
caused by family issues or lack of financial support, was a
significant factor contributing to students dropping out of
school. Students who missed significant school days were less
likely to perform well academically and more likely to leave
school early.

Related Studies

Foreign

This study explores how chronic absenteeism—missing more

than 10% of the school year—affects academic achievement,
finding a significant negative impact. The study shows that
absenteeism leads to lower standardized test scores, decreased
participation in class activities, and reduced opportunities
for learning and engagement. It also highlights the link
between absenteeism and social disengagement, which
exacerbates academic difficulties. The research calls for
intervention and prevention strategies to address chronic
absenteeism.

In this study, Devadoss and Foltz examined the

correlation between class attendance and academic performance
across four U.S. universities. They found that students with
higher attendance rates consistently performed better in exams
and assignments. The study also investigated other factors
influencing attendance, such as course difficulty and student
motivation, concluding that regular attendance directly
improves academic success by enhancing learning opportunities
and engagement with course material.

This study used a randomized experimental design to test

the effect of class attendance on exam performance. The
researchers found that students who attended all scheduled
lectures scored significantly higher than those who missed
class sessions. The results suggest that even minor
absenteeism can detract from students' understanding of key
concepts, which negatively impacts their performance on exams.
The study emphasized the importance of in-person interactions
and learning opportunities during class sessions.

Marburger’s study focused on the relationship between

absenteeism and academic performance in undergraduate
economics courses. It found that absenteeism has a clear,
measurable effect on performance, particularly on assessments
that directly follow missed lectures. The study concluded that
each absence resulted in a lower score on related exam
questions, as students missed out on key lectures and
discussions that were essential for understanding the
material. It suggests that reducing absenteeism could improve
overall academic performance.
 This study reviewed the psychological and academic
consequences of absenteeism, particularly in children and
adolescents. It links absenteeism to mental health problems
like anxiety and depression, which not only affect students'
emotional well-being but also hinder their academic
performance. The research also found that absenteeism often
leads to academic disengagement and isolation, which further
reduces academic success. This study underscores the need for
comprehensive support systems to address both the
psychological and academic effects of absenteeism.

Local

Local studies consistently show that absenteeism is

linked to lower academic performance. In research conducted in
the Philippines, for instance, it was found that students with
higher rates of absenteeism tended to score lower on exams and
assignments. The study suggested that absenteeism disrupted
the students' continuity in learning, leading to gaps in
understanding that impacted their overall grades and class
participation (Manalo & Guerrero, 2020).

Several factors contribute to absenteeism in local

contexts. In a study conducted at a public university in Metro
Manila, students reported various reasons for missing classes,
including personal issues, financial constraints, family
responsibilities, and health problems. These factors not only
contributed to physical absence but also to a lack of
engagement with academic material (Luna, 2021). Furthermore,
absenteeism was found to be more prevalent among students from
lower socio-economic backgrounds, further exacerbating their
academic challenges.

Some local studies also explore the psychological effects

of absenteeism. Research by Dela Cruz (2022) indicated that
students who frequently missed classes often exhibited lower
self-esteem and a lack of confidence, which further affected
their academic performance. These students were also found to
struggle with social integration, which negatively impacted
their motivation and participation in classroom activities.

Interventions aimed at reducing absenteeism in local

contexts have been explored as well. A study by Reyes (2019)
found that schools that implemented attendance tracking
systems and engaged with students through counseling or
mentorship programs showed a reduction in absentee rates.
These programs helped address underlying issues such as
motivation and family-related concerns, thereby improving
students' academic outcomes.
 Finally, research by Garcia & Santos (2023) indicates
that chronic absenteeism, particularly in the first year of
high school, has long-term effects on academic achievement.
Students who are absent frequently in the early years are more
likely to fall behind in later grades, creating a cycle of
academic failure that becomes harder to break.

Theoretical Framework

The student body is the greatest contributor to the ccess

or the ground falling of the school. An individual who have
habitually made absotices in class may have lost the chance of
learning. He or she might have less chances of getting an
aimed position. The school who plays an important role to a
child's motivation has known the impact of absenteeism to a
student and to the school performance itself.

The spread of absenteeism may have roots that affect the

attendance of an individual. "A constant doing may lead to a
constant result, just like Domino" (Asia Child Data Trend,
2008). Coping up is never easy, especially when there is a lot
of work to be done. Some teachers are also considerate that
slows down the run of class discussion.

Absenteeism alone when a large part of the school

population is involved may not only cause a problem to the
school but also to the local administration (Williams, L.,
2001). The performances being recorded at the diagnostic tests
or midterm exams for example will determine the school's
performance. And when absences are done, it can pull down even
the highest score. That is why the results of absenteeism are
to be identified as so the solutions can be formulated to
materialize the aims of the school and the individuals.

Conceptual Framework
The figure below shows how absenteeism affects the academic
performance ot the student.

Input

Socio- Demographic profile of the

respondent:

• Gender

• Age

• Strand

• General Average

• Members of the Family

• Monthly Family Income

PROCESS

• Researchers

•Survey Questioners

• Gathering of Data

• Compilation of Data

• Analyzing of Data

• Interpretation of Data

OUTPUT

The effects of absenteeism to

the academic performance

Chapter lll
 Methodology

Research methodology is the process of solving the

problem systematically by research. The objective of the study
is to solve the problem by using available data. This research
examined the effects of absenteeism to student's performance
in Moises D. Fernandez Sr. Pioneer High School. This chapter
includes a discussion about the population sample procedure
used in collecting data, research instrument, research design
and the statistical tools used in gathering and analyzing the
data.

Research Design

This study used the descriptive survey method of

research. It helps to determine the effects of absenteeism in
academic performance of Grade 9 Students of Moises D.
Fernandez Sr. Pioneer High School.

Locale

This research was conducted at Sta. Maria Presentacion

Camarines Sur since the chosen respondents are student of the
particular school.

Respondent of the study

This research utilizes the Grade 9 students of the Moises

D. Fernandez Sr. Pioneer High School. There were
questionnaires that were handed to give their own opinion to
our given questionnaires.

Research Instrumentation

The instrument used in conducting this study was a

researcher-made survey questionnaire to investigate the
effects of absenteeism to the academic performance of Grade 9
student in Moises D. Fernandez Sr. Pioneer High School.

Data Gathering

In conducting this study, a transmittal letter was sent

to the office coordinator and to the advisers of grade 9
students to ask permission to allow researchers to conduct
study in their perspective class.

After asking the permission, the researchers conduct a

little orientation on the respondents about the study. After
the orientation, the questionnaires were distributed
accordingly to the student of grade 9.

Then, when the participants are done answering the

questionnaire, the researchers are collected the data and give
the data to the statistician for tabulation and interpretation
of the data.

Research Procedure

Statistical Treatment

Descriptive statistics used in this Chapter included mean

and frequencies. The selection of tools was done on the basis
of objectives of the research work and the nature of
respondents. The purpose of this statistical treatment can
help the researcher to collect mathematical data for the
beneficial to the upcoming outcome of the study. The following
statistical treatments are used to identify the answer to the
specific problem of the study: