The study attempts to analyse the causes and reasons, which lead to absenteeism in two secondary state schools – Mikiel Anton Vassalli, Junior Lyceum and Dun Karm Psaila an Area Secondary. Additionally, this study identifies those students who play truant from school and the reasons that lead students to react in this way. It also attempts to find some of the solutions, which might contribute to reducing absenteeism from schools. This study first gives an insight of how authors define the terms absenteeism and truancy including causes that fall under such categories.

A questionnaire was given to some students who are in Form 3 and in Form 4, in order to find out the reasons, which contribute to students being absent and playing truant from school. This research also includes two interviews with two Form 4 students, who attend Mikiel Anton Vassalli, who are frequently absent and play truant. We also interviewed a guidance teacher from each school respectively.

The study shows how issue concerning teaching methods, discipline, family background, peer group pressure need to be addressed when attempting to understand this phenomenon. The final understanding should be that each case of absenteeism or truancy is in its own way unique and needs to be recognized as such.

P.G.C.E. (Maltese), 2004