FAMILY INVOLVEMENT AND TRUANCY RATE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS OF RWANDA A CASE OFBUGESERA DISTRICT

Background: The study intended to analyze the family involvement and truancy rate in primary schools of Bugesera District, Rwanda. The specific objectives of this study were: to identify the roles of family on truancy rate in primary schools of Bugesera District, to determine the level of students truancy rate in primary schools in Bugesera District Rwanda, to establish the relationship between family involvement and truancy rate in primary schools of Bugesera District Rwanda. The researcher adopted the descriptive survey design because the study sought to gain insight or perception into a phenomenon as a way of providing basic information in an area of study. The study target population comprised of 686 in total including 108 teachers, 18 head teachers, 200 parents and 360 students of 18 primary schools in Bugesera district. Methods and Materials:The researcher selected respondents pupils using simple random sampling. The researcher used simple random sampling to select the schools hence 7 schools were sampled. Stratified random sampling was used to categorize the sampled schools according to their zones and size. At school levels, 38 the teachers and 7 head teachers were purposively sampled, 130 pupils and 72 parents were selected using stratified random sampling. The formula used to determine the sample size of the respondents was Robert and Morgan table for sample size determination where the sample size was 247 respondents. The researcher used the questionnaire and interview to take data. The interview was used for head teachers and teachers, and questionnaires for parents and students. Data were analysed into tables and graphs applying descriptive statistics (frequency, percentages and mean) by statistical tools such SPSS Version 2.0 was used for data analysis. Results:As shown by the findings, 52% of students and 80.5% of parents confirmed that the family played a distinctive role in minimizing the level of truancy, even though there were some parents/ guardians who did not do follow-up to their children that is why some students were truant others were absent without reasons. Determining the level of truancy rate in primary schools, it was indicated by 36.85% of students and 72.3% of the parents that the level of truancy rate was moderate the number of truant pupils was not high in primary schools of Bugesera due to the facts that the age of primary students varied between 6 and 14 that the pupils were still little to indulge themselves into the temptations even though there was some students who were truant due to lack of school materials and family conflict reasons. The findings showed that there was a negative correlation between family involvement and truancy rate which was -0.242 of Spearman correlation coefficient which meant that when the family actively involved in the pupils education, the level of truancy went down due to the parents/ guardians guidance, pupils follow-up for pupils performance and positive discipline. The researcher recommended that the concerned stakeholders in education should work together to ensure pupils attend school regularly. Conclusion:The researcher suggested other researchers should carry out studies related to the family involvement and truancy rate in secondary schools, on the absenteeism and attendance rate.