Truancy: Education and Famous Disciplinary Problems

According to Encyclopedia of Children’s Health (2004), truancy can be defined as unapproved absence from school, usually without a parent 's knowledge. It is one of the famous disciplinary problems faced by the school students in Malaysia. Nowadays, this problem seems to be a normal situation for Malaysian as we can see many students loitering in public area even they were dressed in school uniform. Since there is no strict action taken against them, they no longer have the fear in playing truant and this problem keeps repeating from day to day. There are several ways that should be taken by the Ministry of Education to solve the problem of truancy among Malaysian school students which are, impose a truancy fine on parents who let their children absent to school without any reasonable excuse, assign every school in Malaysia to provide programmes for students, and encourage teachers to improve their teaching methods. One of the actions that should be taken by Ministry of Education is to assign every school in Malaysia to provide interesting and beneficial programmes for students such as sports and games, educational field trip and so on. Datuk Mohd Ali Hassan, the National Parent-Teachers Association president, said in an article entitled ‘Truancy among schoolchildren rampant’, “The imbalance of education system which focused too much on academic can cause students to lose focus and interest in their studies resulting to truancy,” (New Straits Times, 30 March 2012). Furthermore, through this action, we can build the excitement of coming to school in students especially for students who has finished their examination. Therefore truancy among school students can be reduced. Not only stick on physical programmes only, the programmes of moral also can be provided to enlighten the students about their responsibilities as a student. Thus, by approaching of ministry programme, it is significantly showed the improvement in student studies. Moreover, it also encourage student to success in their study and help the collaboration between students and teachers as to reduce the truancy. Therefore, starts from now on, the Ministry of Education should take serious action towards this problem such as impose a truancy fine on parents who let their children absent to school without any reasonable excuse, assign every school in Malaysia to provide programmes for students, and encourage teachers to improve their teaching methods to make sure our country can produce a good and excellent product of citizen in the future. Without we realize, truancy among school students actually brings many bad effects for school students themselves such as drug and alcohol abuse, involvement in gangs , and so on.

References

Reid, Paula, and Elizabeth A. Whitmore. "Conduct Disorder." In Psychiatric Secrets , 2nd ed. Edited by Alan Jacobson. St. Louis: Mosby, 2001, pp. 310–13. Retrieved October 27,2012 from: http://www.healthofchildren.com/T/Truancy.html#b#ixzz2AtqQYwkI

Fatt, K.L(2012, March 30) Truancy among school children. New Straits Times, pp.5 Retrieved October 27,2012 from: http://www.nst.com.my/top-news/truancy-among-schoolchildren-rampant-1.68301

References: Reid, Paula, and Elizabeth A. Whitmore. "Conduct Disorder." In Psychiatric Secrets , 2nd ed. Edited by Alan Jacobson. St. Louis: Mosby, 2001, pp. 310–13.  Retrieved October 27,2012 from: http://www.healthofchildren.com/T/Truancy.html#b#ixzz2AtqQYwkI Fatt, K.L(2012, March 30) Truancy among school children. New Straits Times, pp.5 Retrieved October 27,2012 from: http://www.nst.com.my/top-news/truancy-among-schoolchildren-rampant-1.68301