ACTION RESEARCH AS PANACEA FOR LEARNERS’ ABSENTEEISM IN REMOTE AREA PRIMARY SCHOOLS OF BOTSWANA: THE CASE OF KACGAE PRIMARY SCHOOL

Abstract

Drawn from a research project on an incidence of irregular school attendance or absenteeism in Kacgae
Primary School (a remote area primary school), this article discusses the manner in which an action research
process was employed to revert the problem of absenteeism in order to improve school attendance. The
article makes a clear case that action research can be a panacea for learner absenteeism and improved
academic performance in remote area primary schools of Botswana. A case study model design was used
where analysis of qualitative and quantitative data was done. This study found a relationship between class
attendance and academic performance. Further analysis reveal some difference in family dynamics may
have an effect on the relationship between class attendance and academic performance. Central to all the
findings is the fact that absenteeism in schools affects only a small percentage of the class therefore
affecting the overall average academic class performance.