SOCIOECONOMIC AND SCHOOL FACTORS CAUSING PUPILS' ABSENTEEISM IN LOWER PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN MASABA SUB-COUNTY, KENYA

Pupils who regularly attend school perform better in school than those who do not. Absenteeism from school makes pupils not to achieve their maximum. This paper presents results from a study that was conducted to explore the socioeconomic and school factors causing pupils to be absent from school in lower primary schools in Masaba Sub-county, Nyamira County in Kenya. The results from data analysis had shown that pupils’ absenteeism was an issue in lower primary schools in the sub-county and pupils’ were often absent from school on Monday and Fridays. Several socio-economic and school factors made pupils to be absent from school. The socioeconomic factors included: children staying at home to help parents in family business and lack of money for basic needs. The school factors included: Un-conducive school environment; and poor relationship with peers and teachers. The strategies that could be used to reduce pupils’ absenteeism from school include: Strict implementation of school rules, banning of unauthorized levies, and effective teaching