Skipping English Language Lessons and its Effect on Senior Secondary School Students in Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Literature abounds on the causes of truancy in schools among students but hardly has there been much on its effects on core subject like English Language of which deficiency could jeopardize truants’ life careers. Being Survey study, Multi-stage and purposive sampling techniques were used to select 240 SS2 students: regular-in-class and truants from six public schools in the three geo-political zones of Imo State. Six hypotheses were drawn and a 50-item English Language objective test with four options having r=0.78 was used to gather data analyzed, using ANOVA. Findings revealed significant difference in the mean scores of regular-in- English Language lessons and truants: 23.95 and 20.54 respectively; no significant difference in the performance of truants due to parents’ income: F (2, 117) = 0.923, p = 0.400; in the performance of truants in respect of parents’ educational qualification: F (2, 117) = 1.202, p = 0.304;); and in the performance of regular and truants due to parents’ professions: F (2, 237) = 0.176, p = 0.838. There was significant difference in the performance of regular students due to parents’ income: F (2, 117) = 0.256, p < .001; and in the performance of regular students in respect of parents’ educational qualifications: F (2, 117) = 1.156, p < .000. Education stake-holders should curb truancy in schools and classes. Government should enforce discipline and make school environment friendly. English Language teachers should keep subject attendance registers.

Key Words: truancy, academic achievement, subject attendance register, bullying, English language, school tone, discipline, success