PATTERN OF SCHOOL ABSENTEEISM IN SOME SELECTED COUNTRIES

School absenteeism is treated as a barrier towards quality education. It is related to school dropout, depression, anxiety and academic performance. This study uses Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey dataset to analyze the pattern of school absenteeism in five lower middle-income countries: Bangladesh, Djibouti, Nigeria, Ukraine and Vietnam. Primary and secondary level students are considered in this study. Authors accomplish descriptive analyses to trace out the pattern of school absenteeism. This study finds that nearly one-third students in Bangladesh, about half of the students in Djibouti and more than half students in Vietnam missed at least one instructional day in a week. Additionally, more than 80 percent students in Nigeria and Ukraine missed one instructional day in a week. This study reveals that age and wealth status are negatively related to school absenteeism. Furthermore, it is evident that tendency of school absenteeism is higher among rural and primary level students. Thus, this study suggests for providing conditional cash transfer among primary level students and specific incentive for rural students to address the problem of absenteeism.