Causes, effects and remedies of truancy among secondary school students in Jalingo, Taraba state, Nigeria

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Introduction: Truancy been one of the juvenile delinquent behaviour of secondary school students has affected students’ academic performance and the society. This study was designed to ascertained the causes, effects and the ways to remedy the problem. Purpose of the study: The study identified the causes, effects and remedies of truancy among secondary school students in Jalingo Taraba State, Nigeria. Methodology: Descriptive design was used for the study. The population of the study comprised of all the 11,765 senior secondary school students in the 34 secondary schools in Jalingo. The sample size was 250 SS II students selected randomly from 10 senior secondary schools. Self-designed questionnaire tagged “Causes, Effects and Remedies of Truancy Questionnaire (CERTQ)” was used. The instrument was subjected to pilot testing using 50 respondents and Cronbach alpha was used to test the reliability. Reliability coefficient of 0.82 was obtained. The research instrument was administered directly to the students. Descriptive statistical techniques such as mean and standard deviation were used to analyze the research questions. Results: The study found out that the causes of truancy are physical/mental ill-health, drug abuse, broken home, harsh disciplinary, lack of parental supervision, poor academic performance, poor parental income, unconducive school environment, bullying and wrong teaching methods. The effects of truancy are school dropout, poor academic performance, engagement in crime, violence, drug abuse, family instability and poor self-esteem. The remedies to truancy are review of disciplinary policies, supervision and monitoring of students’ academic activities by parents, provision of adequate facilities in schools, intimating of students on the danger of drug abuse, taking care of students with physical and mental ill-health. Recommendations/Classroom Implications: The study recommended among other things that parents should supervise and monitor their children academic activities and the government should provide adequate facilities in schools.