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

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. The sample consisted of 475 pupils, (237 boys and 238 girls) aged between 10 years 0 months and 10 years 11 months, attending Year VI classes in four Government Primary schools during the scholastic year 1991-92. Scores in Mathematics, English and Maltese of the national annual (1991-92) examination together with the pupils' present stream were recorded. The number of days attended during May and November of the same scholastic year was also recorded. Findings indicate that older pupils perform significantly better than younger pupils in Mathematics, English and Maltese and are over-represented in the top stream; girls significantly outperform boys in all three subjects and are over-represented in the top stream; age and sex do not have a significant effect on attendance; and there is a significant and positive correlation between attendance and performance in Mathematics, English and Maltese.