How farming, cattle herding and socio-economic factors lead to absenteeism among pupils in selected schools in Kalomo district of Southern province in Zambia.
Date
2022
Authors
Simuzya, Webster
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
The University of Zambia
Abstract
This study investigated how farming, cattle herding and social economic factors lead
to absenteeism among pupils in selected schools in Kalomo district of southern
province in Zambia. The study was built on the conceptual framework of learner
absenteeism measured by socio-economic status, farming and cattle herding. The
study was informed by Bandura’s Social Learning Theory. A descriptive research
design which was supported by qualitative methods of data collection was used in the
study. Interview Guides and four Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were used to
collect data from a purposively sampled population of twenty eight (28) study
participants comprising of four (4) guidance and counselling teachers, twenty (20)
parents and four (4) FGDs. The study used thematic analysis to analyse data, where
common themes were identified, grouped for easy interpretation and presented using
verbatim based on the research objectives.
The study established that absenteeism exist in primary schools of Kalomo District in
Zambia. The study established that major drivers behind absenteeism are economic
factors of cattle herding and farming in which learners are involved to supplement
family income due to high levels of poverty.
Other factors that contributed to learner absenteeism included; physical factors such
as long distance to school; health factors such as prolonged sickness and death in
the family. Other related issues included household factors which borders on parents
and guardians lack of financial capability to provide for school demands for their
children, as well as cultural and social factors such as initiation ceremonies.
Therefore, the study confirms that cattle herding, farming and poor economic status
of parents are the major home factors contributing significantly to high levels of pupil
absenteeism in Kalomo district.
Therefore, the study recommends that parents should form pressure groups to
sensitize each other on the importance of education, parents should practice
traditional ceremonies during the holidays and that the Government and school
administrators should engage in constructive sensitization of parents on the
importance of education especially for their children. Furthermore, it is recommended
that parents should be empowered for them to stop over depending on their children’s
labour for survival
Description
Thesis
Keywords
Cattle-- Herding cattle. , Economic contribution of children--Effects--Schooling.