The effects of age, sex and absenteeism on attainment in Year V

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of: (i) age on attainment and absenteeism; (ii) pupil sex on attainment and absenteeism; (iii) absenteeism on attainment. A sample of 425 pupils (198 boys and 227 girls) was selected from Year V classes in the state primary schools in Malta, aged from 9 years 0 months to 9 years 11 months. The raw scores in Mathematics, English and Maltese of the national annual examinations held in July 1992 were collected. The number of days attended during May and November of the same scholastic year was recorded. Findings indicate that differences were always in favour of older pupils but these differences were not significant at the 0.05 level and older pupils are over-represented in the A stream. There is a significant relationship between sex and attainment and girls are over-represented in the top stream. There is no significant relationship between age and absenteeism or between sex and absenteeism. There is a positive and significant correlation between attendance and performance in Mathematics, English and Maltese.