A Study on Absenteeism of University Students

Abstract

Attendance is thought to be an important issue for academic success in schools. With the long school closure due to Covid-19, students were kept away from schools and when the schools were opened and face to face education began, the absenteeism rate increased a lot. A phenological study to determine the reasons for absenteeism of university students was conducted with the participation of 56 students from different faculties of a university at the Black Sea Region of Turkey during the spring term of 2022. According to the findings obtained from the study, the most important reason for absenteeism was health problems. Secondly, waking up early was another striking reason for absenteeism. Stress and depression, early class hours, family and transportation problems, academic staff were stated as important reasons for absenteeism. The long course hours, the lack of sufficient activities in the school environment, not finding the lessons meaningful and informative also found to be affective in the attendance rate of students. It was also found out that university environment and instructors were also responsible from students’ absenteeism. Therefore, the courses should not be planned in the early hours and the course instructors should be able to take students’ attention to the courses. Moreover, the campuses should increase social, cultural and sportive activities. To attract the attention of students to school with extracurricular activities; social, cultural and sportive activities should be planned. University campus should turn into a life center where students would like to be.