School Attendance Of Students Research Articles

How Did the COVID-19 Pandemic and Digital Divide Impact Ciganos/Roma School Pathways?

The COVID-19 pandemic forced the Portuguese government to declare various lockdowns between 2020 and 2022. The first State of Emergency was enforced in March 2020, in which face-to-face classroom teaching was repeatedly interrupted. At that time, families were expected to provide the necessary supplies for digital learning, with some support from the government, municipalities, civil society, and local institutions. Nevertheless, many families already lived under precarious conditions before the pandemic, and so the lockdown measures increased their vulnerability, with a probable impact on student school attendance and conditions enabling academic success. Since Ciganos/Roma are part of this vulnerable population, we intend to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic impacts the school pathways of these students, namely in secondary education, where they represent a minority group. The data are derived from a variety of qualitative sources collected during research carried out in the two Metropolitan Areas in Portugal. The COVID-19 pandemic affected the youngsters’ access to classes and their motivation to attend school, and opens the discussion about how because of the government’s universal measures, by failing to consider social diversity, in particular Ciganos/Roma Ciganos/Roma families, this pandemic crisis may disproportionally affect the education of their children and youth. The findings highlight, firstly, that these impacts continue to be rendered invisible and naturalized in the public sphere and, secondly, that the measures and legislation underlying the pandemic effects continue not to include Ciganos in policymaking processes.

Imparting Nutrition Knowledge to School Children and Communities: The Role of Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato in Nutrition The Role of Orange Fleshed Sweet Potato in Nutrition Authors

Consumption of orange-fleshed sweet potato is essential in combating malnutrition. To date, researchers have made many efforts to introduce bio-fortified foods to increase nutrient adequacy. This study conducted baseline and end-line surveys to 480 students and 48 teachers in the three districts of Tanzania, namely Mkuranga, Bukoba, and Missenyi, and was trained on nutrition education. The knowledge on orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) nutrition value increased from 0.40% to 74.21% for students and from 5.30% to 97.72% for teachers.  Both students and teachers showed to score high dietary diversity. Teachers and farmers/women of reproductive age practiced boiling OFSP with peels which is the appropriate method for preventing nutrient loss.  These results show that students and teachers gained knowledge of the nutrition benefits of OFSP. The study found that more than half (60.80%) of students and 25.00% of teachers in their households still cook potatoes after peeling; the practice that can lead to the loss of some nutrients, especially water-soluble vitamins. There was an increase in OFSP consumption by teachers (100%), students (99.2%), and farmers/women of reproductive age (76.3%). The majority of family members preferred sweet potato consumption at the end line survey by 62%. The study also showed an increase in student's school attendance from  85.06%  (2015) to 91.56% (2018). This study suggests more effort is needed to increase the adoption and utilization of OFSP through a developed partnership with agro-processors for viable processed products.

0267 School Night Sleep Duration Effect on Risk for In-and-Out of School Suspensions: An Investigation in a Middle-School Aged Sample

Abstract Introduction Sleep plays an important role in adolescent education and development. Sleep impacts student school attendance, academic performance, and daytime behaviors. There has been limited investigation into the impact on sleep duration (SD) on school suspension risk. Given the growing public health and policy focus on altering school start times to increase SD, this study assessed SD association with school suspension risk using a middle-school aged sample from the Madison (Wisconsin) Metropolitan School District (MMSD), prior to implementation of a planned district-wide delay in middle school start times. Methods 4,175 middle-school aged students from 12 MMSD schools completed a sleep survey, which included school-night SD (SNSD). Self-reported SNSD between 4-and-12 hours served as criterion for inclusion in final sample. Mixed effects modeling was employed with students nested within school. Logistic regression determined SNSD association with in-school (ISS) and out-of-school (OSS) suspensions. ISS and OSS were dichotomized (No ISS/OSS = 0; nonzero ISS/OSS = 1) to serve as outcome variables. Full model covariates included age, sex, race, circadian preference, parent educational level, homelessness, free and reduced lunch, and special education status. Results Final sample included 3,860 students. Shorter SNSD associated with greater likelihood of OSS [OR = 0.83, 95% CI (-0.28, -0.09), X2 = 16.1, p < 0.0001], but not ISS [OR = 0.97, 95% CI (-0.14, -0.070), X2 = 0.44, p = 0.51]. Significance between SNSD and OSS was maintained in the full model [OR = 0.84, 95% CI (-0.27, -0.08), X2 = 13.2, p = 0.0003]. Each additional hour of sleep associated with 16% lower risk of OSS. Conclusion These results suggest that students with shorter SD are at increased risk for OSS, which further highlights the potential deleterious impact of short SD on adolescent educational experience. Support This research was generously supported by a grant from the Madison Education Partnership (MEP).

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps): Its Effect on the Academic Performance of Student-Beneficiaries in Calaba National High School in the Philippines

This study measured and evaluated the effect of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) on the academic performance of the student-beneficiaries of Calaba National High School, Calaba, San Isidro, Nueva Ecija in the Philippines. Survey questionnaires were distributed to ninety five 4Ps student beneficiaries who were purposively selected based on the following criteria: 4Ps beneficiary, enrolled in Calaba National High School at the time of data gathering, and willingness to participate in the study. Analysis of all collected data revealed the significant effect of the program to the performance of student beneficiaries especially in motivating students to attend classes. The result also supports Vroom’s Expectancy Theory which assumes that the students’ efforts, performance, and behavior are influenced by the importance they place on the desired outcome. In this case, to satisfy the conditionalities and remain eligible for the cash grant which have positive effect on the socio-economic status of their family. Based on the findings, it is therefore recommended that the scope of the program be extended especially that two years have been added to the secondary education; livelihood programs be intensified to provide family-beneficiaries with additional income; and for the concerned agencies and authorities to review the existing budget and disbursement schemes to prevent delay in the release of grants. The increase in the school attendance of students and the diminished drop-out rate indicates the program’s positive effect on the lives of the beneficiaries.

AS IMPLICAÇÕES DO PROGRAMA DE TRANSFERÊNCIA DE RENDA BOLSA FAMÍLIA NA ALFABETIZAÇÃO DOS BENEFICIADOS NO MUNICÍPIO DE SANTA MARIA – RS

O artigo apresenta o desenvolvimento do Programa Bolsa Família-PBF no Município de Santa Maria – RS. Tem como objetivo central mostrar os impactos na alfabetização a partir da sua implementação e caracterizar de forma mais abrangente as variáveis: a) renda per capita das famílias; b) condições infraestruturais dos domicílios e c) frequência escolar dos estudantes vinculados ao Programa. A metodologia compreende uma análise econométrica e pesquisa de campo. Os dados utilizados são provenientes dos Censos Demográficos do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatístico-IBGE de 2000 e 2010, de informações da Secretaria de Municipal de Assistência Social, Cidadania e Direitos Humanos-SMAC e de informações obtidas pela pesquisa de campo realizada nos meses de maio e junho de 2012. Os resultados mostram que quanto maior a proporção de pessoas receptoras dos benefícios do PBF no município, maior o acréscimo na proporção de alfabetizados. Salienta-se o elevado grau de repetência escolar (44% das famílias tiveram reprovação de pelo menos um dos filhos). O Programa per si não é capaz de diminuir todas as adversidades que se impõem sendo, de fato, necessárias políticas macroeconômicas mais amplas de crescimento econômico que, por sua vez, devem repercutir no aumento da renda per capita combinada com distribuição de renda.

Investigation of Students’ Attendance Patterns and Measures in Place to Curb the Menace in Secondary Njoro Sub-County, Kenya

Students' school attendance is still a major challenge in Kenya secondary levels of education. Therefore, this research analyzed student's school attendance and measures put in place to curb the problem in secondary schools in Njoro sub-county in Kenya. This study was set to look into: student's school attendance; causes of student school non-attendance and students performance in order to establish ways of mitigating this trend. Moreover, findings of this study were to assist the following individuals: students, teachers and the school administration such that it will assist students to know effects of school non-attendance; it will also assist teachers to be able to formulate ideas on how to reduce student's absenteeism.The study used descriptive survey design targeting all public secondary schools in Njoro sub-county. The target population for the study comprised of 169 male and 89 female teachers. There were more than 30 public secondary schools. Simple random sampling was used to select 8 schools and 156 teachers. Data was collected using questionnaires for teachers. Data collected was analyzed by descriptive statistics. Analyzed data was presented by use of frequency distribution tables. The researcher established that schools do not vary the ways of improving student's school attendance, since there is strong negative correlation between absenteeism and academic performance.

Investigating Bacillary Dysentery Outbreaks in Dabang and Shanmei Villages of Alishan Township, Chiayi County

The Saint Martin Hospital of Chiayi county reported on 9 April 2001 a bacillary dysentery case of a 66-year old female in Tefuyeh Tribe of Dabang Village, Alishan Township. As there had never been such cases in the last ten some years, a large-scale epidemiological investigation was conducted. The investigation took primarily the forms of case interviews, survey of the residents, review of medical records of all medical care institutions in Alishan Township, and review of student school attendance, and healthcare records at schools. Surveillance stations for diarrhea patients were set up at the same time at the Alishan Health Station, medical units of the Saint Martin Hospital, the Chiayi Christian Hospital, the Wang FF Clinic, the Wang CL clinic, the Dabang Primary School, the Sanmei Primary School, and the Dabang and Sanmei nurseries. Any individuals with two or more diarrhea in a day should be reported immediately and their rectal specimens collected for laboratory testing. These measures were taken to detect suspected cases. The epidemiological survey described the date of onset of each case, their distribution and their personal and geographic relationship to disclose the possible causes of infection and route of transmission. Between the first confirmed case in Dabang on 9 April till 7 June, 82 cases had been identified (10 confirmed cases, one asymtomatic positive case, and 34 suspects in Dabang, and 14 confirmed cases and 23 suspects in Shanmei). The first case in Dabang became ill on 31 March. The first case in Shanmei became ill on 22 April and her grandmother is a sister of the first case of Dabang. She had visited the case in Dabang. As all cases were related through personal contacts, time of onset and geographically, it was decided that the present bacillary dysentery outbreaks were brought about by person-to-person contacts. It was, however, not possible to decide when and where the outbreaks broke out. By the medical records of the residents, bacillary dysentery did occur in the past, but was in most cases treated as gastrointestinal infections. The outbreaks concluded on 24 May when the last case was detected. A special feature of this investigation was that all cases were, with the exception of the first case which was reported by the hospital, identified by the health and medical care institutions at all levels through surveillance, symptom reporting, and immediate investigation. Control measures taken at the same time effectively prevented the spread of the infection to other parts of Alishan Township.