Research on the reasons of absenteeism among primary school students (Elazig city sample)

This research aims to determine the reasons of absenteeism among 7 th and 8 th grade students in second level in govermental primary schools of Elazığ Directorate of National Education.In this research, in order to reveal two different approaches to student absenteeism, ?a survey of the reasons of student absenteeism? which is designed to conduct among second level primary school students in Elazığ city centre and ?a survey of teachers? opinion on student absenteeism? designed to conduct among teachers who are working in primary schools in city centre are prepared.The reasons of student absenteeism survey is conducted among 2600 students who are selected according to the stratified sampling proportional approach from 12080 students who are studying in 7th and 8th classes in 58 primary schools in city centre.Teachers? opinion on student absenteeism survey is carried out with 178 teachers who are selected with simple ramdom sampling method among 2459 teachers working in primary schools of Elazığ Directorate of National Education in city centre.Research data are obtained from the surveys developed by the researcher and applied to both teachers and students, information about student absenteeism in Ministry of National Education database, mean average of Elazığ in SBS (Level Assessment Exam), school lists, numbers of students and classes.In surveys applied to teachers and students 5 point scaling (Likert type) is used. Questions in the survey are categorized into six groups as individual reasons, teachers, schools and school administration, family reasons, health reasons and environmental factors. Statistical estimations are made and evaluated in SPSS 15,0 programme.The most important outcome obtained from the research findings is that; for students and teachers health problems and prepare at the SBS are the most significant reasons for absenteeism.Key Words: Absenteeism, Student, School