غیبت در مدارس دولتی و سیاست های مدیریت مدارس مرتبط با آن در ترکیه (مورد در آنکارا )

The problem of the present study: What is the opinion of administrators, students, counseling teachers and course teachers in public schools about the reasons for student absenteeism and the applications and policies of the school administration regarding

Any kind of education system emphasizes the importance of the fact that children are encouraged to continue with secondary school education upon completing their formal education and that children atten school. In today’s world, it is essential and compulsory that all students complete their high school education not only because they need to get prepared for the university education or gain the qualifications for a vocation, but also because all citizens of a nation need to gain general educational values. The students who remain in the school system until they graduate from the high school have the chance to discover their personal interests and become happier individuals thanks to the curricular and extracurricular opportunities offered to them (Ellis, Cogan & Howey, 1991). The findings of effective schooling research reveal that there are several factors that determine performance of students at school, among which self-concept of the student, his attitude towards school and learning, the magnitude of school, and the policies to keep students at school can be highlighted as the most crucial (Silins and Murray-Harris, 1999). N o definite solution has been found to the problem of student absenteeism since compulsory education was implemented. Little success has been obtained in spite of the research and programs to prevent student absenteeism. Absenteeism due to various reasons has always happened and stills remains to be one of the most important problems of schools and nations (Reid, 2005). Various studies in the USA and the UK confirm this fact. Absenteeism is also significant due to the fact that it signals a number of anti-social behaviors that trigger personal and developmental problems in children. (Bell, Rosen & Dynlacht, 1994).

I t is concluded in this study that school administrators, counseling teachers and class teachers have different opinions about the reasons for absenteeism. While the school staff believe the students and their families to be the factors causing the absenteeism problem, the students regards educational factors to be the main reason for absenteeism problem. Since both parties seem to overlook their own part in the problem, holding the other party responsible, it turns out to be risky to consider the precautions and policies to be applied to prevent absenteeism single-dimensional. However, absenteeism is an issue that has to be dealt together with the individual, school and family dimensions and that requires the development of multi-dimensional policies