Opinion | Chronic Absenteeism – Factor Behind Surge in Dropout Rate 

Absenteeism in school actually means staying away from school/institution without providing any sound reason for not attending school. Absenteeism has been viewed as an indicator of poor individual performance. Absenteeism has a direct relation with poor grades of a student. It can evoke the negativity in the mind of the child thus leads to dropout. Sometimes the reason for absenteeism could be mental health. The mental health distress of a student could be his or her poor grades, family issues and many more. Absenteeism can be prevented by and created much needed change in today’s methodology of teaching. Looking at the scholastic abilities of a student which is not the same, instead of demoralizing their performance we must encourage them to do better next time. We must inculcate a sense of confidence so that they realize that they are worth it.

Sometimes the reason behind the absenteeism could  be negative treatment towards the students, they are not being treated in a very good manner. Such things finally led to dropout. Corporal punishment could also be the reason in schools, but the government is very much vigilant against those who resort to physical punishment. Free environment can be helpful in improving the achievement grades among the students. By giving them a free atmosphere they can prove their mettle as well. If students feel the home atmosphere they can never leave school without the completion of elementary education. School must focus on the extra curricular activities and students will be excited to go to school. Recreational and club activities can persuade students to resume their classes in order to decrease the dropout rate. The safe positive environment will surely bring about change indefinitely.

Bedecking institutions with different colors and changing shabby walls into beautiful and attractive ones could be the tool to decrease chronic absenteeism. Notably some students can’t afford due to which drop out rate might increase post secondary. Government is actively doing the nice job to tackle the drop rate by providing free and compulsory education to all irrespective of caste, creed, colour and sex. Survey has also been conducted entitled TALASH which aims to prove the data regarding percentage of drop out rate at primary and elementary level. The big question arises the methodology of teaching and learning at the elementary stage which might be a factor for chronic absenteeism.

To tackle the dropout rate, the play way method could be an appropriate tool. Cooperation from the parental side might be a sound reason to reduce the dropout rate at the foundational stage. The rare cause for the absenteeism could be the smartphone where everything is at our finger points and the students get distracted from schooling thus leading to drop out. Sickness from long term ailments usually skip schooling is also the reason.

Competition grows day by day and parents pressurize their kids to excel in every sphere. They stay away from school and join in private coaching which results in additional exertion in absenteeism. Attitude towards the students  from the teaching side results in absenteeism. Take an example of curricular and co- curricular activities in which students participate. We select few out of large and neglecting a section could be the reason for absenteeism.Handling them in the proper way can surely decrease absenteeism.

COVID-19 has shaken the entire system of schooling. People feel reluctant to send their wards to school and become habitual of being away from the school. Post covid the school education department has issued the calendar of curricular and co-curricular activities to persuade the students towards schooling to decrease the system of absenteeism at primary stage. The homework from teachers sometimes acts as a sign of absenteeism, the domination of examinations, class tests, weekly tests results the ways to increase absenteeism. Chronic absenteeism ultimately leads to time drop outs in government schools especially at primary stage.

Chronic Absenteeism became more common in middle schools. It is estimated that rates of chronic absenteeism may have more than doubled during COVID-19 pandemic. There should be an improved standard of teaching teachers should use innovative means, teaching aids, charts, modals, maps etc to teach children so that children also enjoy and take interest in learning. Different awards should be given such as the prize for the most regular child of the school, prize for punctual child etc, these awards will motivate children for regular schooling.

Students who attend the school less frequently and perform worse in both academic and extracurricular are more likely to be excluded from the school and dropout. They may also feel less connected to their classmates and find it hard to get back into the school. This may hinder their social and emotional growth. Absence from the school has many long consequences.

To put it succinctly, measures at school level/cluster level should be taken to aware the children who left school unnecessarily without completion of the foundational stage. In order to attract  school for those children who stayed away for more the month,School kitchen garden, installing flower vase, maps, images etc should made available to reduce the absenteeism.The recent decision of the government to accommodate the Anganwadi centres to the nearby middle schools which aims to provide quality education through play way method in order to reduce further drop out rate. The stakeholders have welcomed the decision of SED. More positive changes to come in the near future.

– The writer is a teacher by profession and teaches at BHS Diver Lolab. He can be reached at farhaanqysar@gmail.com