CHAPTER ONE

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Oxford Advanced learner Dictionary (2001) defined ‘cause’ as:

(I) The person or thing that makes something happen;

(II) A reason for having particular feeling or behaving in a particular way;

(III) An organization or idea that people support or fight,

(IV) A case that goes to court of law.

Encyclopedia wikipedea (2009) opined that ‘cause’, as it relates to the research topic is what makes something happen or a reason for behaving in a particular way. In the same context, Microsoft Encarta (2009) defines solution as a way of solving a problem or dealing with a difficult situation or undesirable behavior.

Truancy is any intentional unauthorized absence from schooling. The term typically describes absence caused by students of their own free will, and usually does not refer to legitimate “excused ” absence. It may also refer to students who attend school but do not go to classes, (wikipedea 2009).

In the same vain, Nwachukwu (2004) said that a truant is one who absents him/herself from classes and school functions, comes late to classes and returns days or even weeks after the beginning of each term without any good permission. Meanwhile Nwachukwu (1999) opined that if a student’s character does not conform with the already mapped out rules and regulations with regards to class attendance and other school activities, that such student is regarded as a truant.

According to Baker, sigmon and Nugent (2001), voluminous research indicates that school problems including: academic failure, juvenile delinquency, gang activity and drug abuse. Nonetheless, the present researchers believe that some of the causes of truancy are non- student factors like, inadequate parental care, cruel teachers, and poor school management.

In the light of the above, Nwangwu (1991) reported that most parents usually over look their responsibilities in training their children rather they try to transfer their roles to the school, neglecting their vital roles of nurturing the character of the child at home. It does not mean that a teacher has not got their own shortcomings. Araonyer (1991) said that some teachers are chief truant who come to school at will while some make lessons very difficult for the student by jumping into the class without proper preparation for the lesson. The present researchers observed that in any school where management has a laissez – faire approach to disciplinary issues like, punctuality, neatness, moral conduct etc the students show lackadaisical attitude to school functions and thus revert to truancy. Fitzgerald (2005) explained that school attendance is an important factor in the development of child’s future. Success in school often leads to a bright and promising future for a student. He further opined that many students stray away from school and become involved in negative activities such as drug abuse, delinquent behavior and gang activity. Sigmon and Nugent (2001) warned that not only does truancy have an immediate effect on the secondary school student, it also extends far into student’s adult years with increased likelihood of incarceration.

The National policy on Education (2004) defined secondary Education, as the education children receive after primary Education and before the tertiary stage. Post primary school board (PPSMB) statistical record PRS (2009) shows that there are nine government owned secondary schools in Enugu North local Government Area. Enugu north local government area is in Enugu senatorial district of Enugu state, Nigeria. The area is predominantly an urban settlement with a few rural communities. Some the communities in Enugu North L.G.A include : Enugu Ngwo, Iva-valley , Coal camp, G.R.A, independent Lay-out , Ogui and Asata.