Stakeholders’ Perceptions of Causes of Absenteeism among Primary School Teachers In Bududa District, Uganda.

Abstract

This study was about stakeholders’ perceptions on the causes of absenteeism among primary school teachers in Bududa district, Uganda. The researcher used cross-sectional survey design as well as qualitative and quantitative approaches. He sampled 127 respondents (12 Head teachers, 12 Deputy Head teachers and 67 classroom teachers, 12 chairpersons and 24 pupils). He used questionnaires, interviews and focus group discussions. Questionnaires were administered to 91 respondents while 36 respondents took part in focus group discussions and interviews. The study was carried out in 12 primary schools from 12 sub-counties. The researcher processed quantitative data using SPSS programme which generated frequencies and simple percentages. Qualitative data was analyzed by reviewing data, editing, summarizing and coding them. The researcher collected data from individual respondents in the form of personal stories, perspectives and experiences and attached meaning to the data by summarizing it according to themes. The findings indicate that in table 4.6 the overall standard deviation is 1.213 and the overall mean is 3.78, showing high stakeholders’ perception of family-related factors as causes of teacher absenteeism and is in line with objective i. In table 4.7, the overall standard deviation is 1.231 and the overall mean is 3.06, showing average stakeholders’ perception of teacher-related factors as causes of teacher absenteeism and is in line with objective ii. In table 4.8, the overall standard deviation is 1.333 and the overall mean is 3.23, showing average stakeholders’ perception of school-based factors as causes of teacher absenteeism and is in line with objective iii. The researcher recommended that parents and Head teachers be sensitized to provide mid-day meals, financial incentives and first aid kits at school.