The Effect Of Truancy On The Academic Performance Of Senior Secondary School Students
[A CASE STUDY OF OGBOMOSO SOUTH, OYO STATE]

In 1978, the military government introduced the system of posting military personnel to school to prevent students from indulging themselves in these learning and behaviour problems.
The national policy on education (2014) states that the secondary school should:
-    equip students to live effectively in our modern age of science and technology; develop and project Nigeria culture, art and language as well as the world’s cultural heritage;
-    Raise a generation of people who can think for themselves, respect views and feelings of others, respect the dignity of labour, and appreciate those values specified under our broad national aims and live as good citizens.
       A students who does not come to school regularly will not be able to achieve these aims. All these aims would be of no importance to him and would see no reason why he/she should work towards achieving the aims. On the long run, he would be a liability to himself and to the nation.
    Due to these, the study aims at investigating truancy among secondary school students in Ogbomoso south educational zone.
1.3    Research Questions
1.    Why do students practice truancy in secondary school?
2.    What are the effects of truancy on the academic performance of students in secondary school
3.    What role can the parents, school and environment play to prevent truancy in schools?
4.    Suggest means and methods that could be adopted to eradicate truancy in secondary schools.
1.4    Research Hypotheses
Based on the research questions the following hypothesis will be verified.
i.    There is no significant relationship between the attitude of truants and non-truants to schooling
ii.    There is no significant relationship between the academic performance of truants and non-truants
iii.    There is no significant relationship between the influence of gender on truants and non – truants.
iv.    There is no significant relationship between the parents of truants and non-truants
v.    There is no significant relationship between influence of teachers on truants and non-truants   
1.5     Purpose of the Study
The purpose of the study is to examine;
a.    The effect of truancy on students academic performance in secondary school. Schools where truancy prevail, disobedient children are likely to face problems in their academic pursuit which lead to laziness and stealing.
b.    To examine the role which parents, schools, society or community can play in order to prevent truancy.
c.    To suggest means and methods that could be adopted to eradicate this evil practice in secondary schools.
d.    Examine the role of counsellor in eradicating the rate of truancy among students.
1.6    Significance of the Study
The study will be of great benefits to the parents in Ogbomoso South Local Government Area who would know that they have a great part to play in making their children to develop positive attitude to schooling and never to run away from school again. Teachers would also gain from the study by knowing the causes of truancy and how to find solutions to them in order to get the best out of their students.
It is hoped that this study will also help the secondary school administration in Ogbomoso Local Government Area to provide conducive environment good for learning by the students so that they do not run away from school.