PERCEIVED IMPACT OF TRUANCY ON BIOLOGY EDUCATION STUDENT’S ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN JOSEPH SARWUAN TARKA UNIVERSITY MAKURDI

This descriptive study investigates the relationship between truancy and academic performance among education students at Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, utilizing a mixed-methods approach. The research identifies underlying factors contributing to truancy, including absenteeism, late resumption, and lateness to lectures/exams, and examines their effects on students' learning experiences, continuous assessment, study habits, participation, morale, and examination performance. The findings reveal significant correlations between truancy and decreased academic achievement, highlighting the need for targeted interventions such as orientation lectures on truancy dangers, peer mentoring for new students, government policies supporting school fee payment, and increased hostel accommodations within the school environment. To address this, the study recommends, Orientation lectures on truancy dangers, Peer mentoring for new students, Government policies supporting school fee payment, Regular counseling sessions for truant students and Stricter attendance policies and enforcement. The study contributes to the existing body of knowledge on truancy's impact on academic performance, providing valuable insights for educational policymakers, administrators, and educators seeking to improve student attendance and academic success.