Table 1

Distribution of Kindergarten Pupils

Characteristics in Terms of Attendance as
Perceived by the Teacher-Respondents
Indicators
1.

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

8.
9.

10.

The pupil considers the

attitude of parents towards
schooling as important.
The pupil has a family
problem at home.
The pupil is suffering on
Illness.
The pupil lacks interest to
go to school
The pupil is experiencing
hunger/malnutrition.
The pupil is interested to go
to school.
The pupil regards the
physical
condition
of
classroom as essential.
The pupil is being influence
by peers.
The pupil attendance is
affected by the distance
between home and school.
The
pupil
encounters
calamities and disasters.
Overall

Mean

SD

Description

3.53

0.63

Always

3.03

0.67

Sometimes

2.97

0.72

Sometimes

2.70

0.75

Sometimes

2.97

0.93

Sometimes

3.20

0.76

Sometimes

3.20

0.71

Sometimes

2.93

0.78

Sometimes

3.13

0.78

Sometimes

3.33

0.88

Always

3.10

0.42

Sometimes

Table 1 presents the mean rating distribution of the Kindergarten pupils

characteristics in terms of attendance as perceived by the teacher-respondents.
Indicators in the attendance construct indicates the different aspects that affect
the Kindergarten pupils attendance.
It reveals that the teacher-respondents indicated that the pupils always
attend to school due to the pupil considers the attitude of parents towards

schooling as important. 3.53 (0.63%) and pupils attendance was always affected
by calamities and disasters 3.33 (0.88%).
Majority of the teacher-respondents signified that the kindergarten pupils
attendance was sometimes affected by physical condition of the classroom as
essential 3.20 (0.71%); the pupil is interested to go to school because of the
teacher 3.20 (0.76%); the pupil attendance is affected by the distance between
home and school 3.13 (0.78%); family problem 3.03 (0.67%); the pupils is
suffering an

illness 2.97 (0.72%); peer influence 2.93 (0.78%); the pupil is

experiencing hunger and malnutrition 2.97 (0.93%) and the pupil lacks of interest
in the school 2.70 (0.75%).
The pupil considers the attitude of parents towards schooling as important
obtained the highest mean rating (M = 3.53, SD = 0.63). This may be attributed
to the fact that kindergarten pupils at their age were very dependent on their
parents.

Further, the research shows that the more intensively parents are

involved in their children's learning; the more beneficial are the achievement
effects. This holds true for all types of parent involvement in children's learning
and for all types and ages of students (Parent Involvement in Education Kathleen
Cotton and Karen Reed Wikelund 2010).
However, the indicator The pupil lacks interest to go to school got the
lowest mean rating (M = 2.70, SD = 0.75). The results can be explained that
during the kindergarten life of the pupils, they would consider this stage as their
first stage of schooling. Pupils at this age were excited to their second home, the
school.

In general, the overall mean rating was 3.10 (0.42%) and described as
Sometimes This means that Kindergarten pupils attendance was sometimes
affected by some aspects and conditions. It has been suggested that parental
factors, such as their own experiences of and attitudes towards education,
authority, schools and school attendance is likely to have a significant impact on
their childrens attitudes towards school and consequent behavior.
Moreover, parents attitudes towards education were generally very
positive as shown in several studies and researches.

According to the of

Douglas Dalziel and Kirsty Henthorne (2012) that majority (97%) agreed that a
good education would help their child to get ahead in life. While 93% thought
that qualifications were important to their childs future, 90% also agreed that
children learn important life skills at school, the majority (98%) of parents
understood that they have a legal obligation to ensure that their child attends
school regularly and on time. Nearly the same percentage (96%) knew that they
needed to ask permission to take their child out of school for an illness reason.

SOURCE:
Douglas Dalziel and Kirsty Henthorne (2012). Parents/carers Attitudes Towards
School Attendance. Department for Education and Skills: UK.