Effects of truancy

If students play truant and it becomes habitual, it will have negative consequences on themselves, their families and schools. Furthermore, the act of truancy emboldens students to be irresponsible and not keep up with education progress (Professional Circular, Ministry of Education Malaysia, 1995).

Truancy has been linked to serious delinquent activities in youth related to substance abuse, gang activity and involvement in criminal activities such as burglary, auto theft and vandalism (Baker, Sigmon & Nugent, 2001) and could also have negative consequences on behaviour in adults.

Truancy has become a significant problem in other parts of the world as well, especially in the United Kingdom and the United States. The Guardian (June 14, 2012) reported that truants miss 3.7 million school days each term in primary and secondary school in England. The Washington Post (November 08, 2012) reported that in 2011, more than 40 percent of the students in high school missed at least a month of school in Washington D.C.

The issue is students who stay away from school without permission will not only be left behind in the learning process, but worse still they will probably end up in drug abuse, gangsterism, alcohol consumption, free sex, gambling and loitering. Certainly, playing truant is a discipline problem, and where do these truants go to and what they do during the time of their absence from school are related concerns. Research findings have also shown that students who do not support and participate in any school programs or activities are those who are not interested to be in school (She, 2002).

Source:

http://www.curtin.edu.my/campusnews/insight/2013/IN13_11.htm

https://eduresearchhome.wordpress.com/effects-of-truancy-on-academic-performance-of-primary-school-students/