“From truancy to the police

custody”

From truancy to the

police custody :An Ethnographic study of a teen-aged boy who becomes a victim of his family upheaval

Author: Shanker Prasad Paudel – Nepal

Introduction

The word ‘truancy’ or ‘bunking off’ means different things to different people. Bunking off,

wagging, skiving, or skipping – the children give for staying away from lessons without the

school’s permission depends on where they live (Kendra Inman in channel 4-family-problems and

pressures) . Oxford advanced learners’ dictionary of current English (6th ed.) defines bunk off and

play truant as ‘ to stay away from school or work when you should be there’ ; ‘to leave school or

work early’. And a child who stays away from school without permission is known as truant.

Similarly, truancy is the practice of staying away school without permission.

Truancy is any intentional unauthorized absence from compulsory schooling. The term

typically describes absences caused by students of their own free will, and usually does not refer to

legitimate “excused absences”, such as ones related to medical conditions. The term’s exact

meaning differs from school to school, and is usually explicitly defined in the school’s handbook of

policies and procedures or students’ code of conduct. It may also refer to students who attend

school but do not go to class. ( Truancy : definition, synonyms from answer.com)

Department of Education and Employment (DfEE,1966) as the National Audit Office,

(2005, p.13 ) in the United Kingdom asks Local Education Authorities to report ‘authorized’ and

‘unauthorized’ absences rates and these are usually defined as :

Authorized absence is absence with permission from an authorized representative of the school and

includes absences for which a satisfactory explanation has been provided.

Unauthorized absence is absence without permission of the school and includes all unexplained or

unjustified absences. ( Daiziel & Henthorne , 2005, p.8 as cited in British educational research journal)

According to the United States Department of Education’s 1996 Manual to Combat Truancy,

skipping school is a cry for help and a signal that the child is in trouble. Psychiatrists consider

truancy one of many symptoms of oppositional defiant disorder or the more serious diagnosis of

conduct disorder, especially when truancy begins before age 13. (Truancy : definitions, symptoms

from answer.com)

The government of Australia , for the first time, has granted powers to the Department of

Education to ask for court orders forcing parents to enroll their children at school. ……….. Premier

Morris Iemma, who announced the reforms during a press conference at parliament house of New

South Wales said it was time that the issue of school enrolments and truancy became one of parental

responsibilities. ………… We want to give our children every opportunity in life and the twin

building blocks are good parenting and a good education. ( The Daily Telegraph, Parents face jail

for truant kids under new laws, April 1, 2008)

In Nepal, strong legal provision has not been seen with regard to school enrolment and

truancy. However, the government has ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC)

1989 , and is a signatory of Education for All and Salamanca Declaration 1994 . Such international

instruments have put pressure on Nepal government to enforce the law with regard to students’

regularity and punctuality at school but effective individualized support measures are yet to be

made and implemented. Some of the private schools, in their own initiatives, have introduced

truancy policy in their schools . In the cases of unnoticed and unauthorized absences , these

schools have started taking prompt action and inform guardians then and there.

It is a mutual responsibility of the parents and the school that the children attend the school

regularly and in time. In case the students are not in position to come to school on the medical

ground or because of unavoidable circumstances, it is essential to report school well in advance (on

telephone or by sending letter) by the parents. Similarly, the school will inform the parents (through

convenient means ) if their children fail to attend school in time or leave school unnoticed. ( SOS

HGS, General Rules, 2009)

In the recent days, some of the media houses including Kantipur, Sagarmatha, Nagarik ,

ABC channels, through their print media and TV channels, have started showing their deep

concern over the truancy issue.

Thus, it has been a matter of wide spread interest in the impact of unauthorized absence of

the students from the school. It is also linked with dissatisfaction, exclusion from school and

criminality. In Nepal, as it has been less done in this area, it is high time to start study, seek

innovative ideas to address and combat this burning issue of truancy or bunking off school.

Theoretical Framework

There have been various researches carried on truancy in the international level and much

of the original research on truancy (e.g. Tyerman, 1968; Galloway, 1985; Reid, 1985) is now

somewhat dated. However, it is essential in establishing a link with which to consider students’

absences from school. For example, Galloway (1985) argues that the distinction between different

kinds of absence, from an occasional day to persistent truancy, represents a continuum rather than

discrete categories as suggested by Tyerman (1968). The approach in the more recent research has

changed from categorizing absence to the effects that result from pupils’ absence from school.

There are some researchers (e.g. Learmonth, 1995) link truancy with the wider issue of pupil

disaffection.

The term juvenile delinquency describes acts that range from truancy to murder with such a

range of acts considered delinquent by law. It is also possible to have association of truancy with

crime which has been noted (DfES, 1999b; & Home Office, 2001). This notion is reflected in

educational policy statements and guidance (e.g. DfEE 1999a, DfEE 2000c and Social Exclusion

unit , 2001). Raising educational achievement and reducing truancy are key elements in the

government’s strategy to address social exclusion. Reid (1995) describes a depressing litany of

consequences that he believes result from truancy , including the robberies, car thefts, burglaries

and criminal damage committed by 10-16 year olds in London. He also suggests that truancy is

associated with a wide range of other difficulties including teenage pregnancy, unemployment in

later life and a tendency to perpetuate a cycle of truancy into the next generation.

It has also been found that truancy has cost implication for the education system. These

include the cost of managing reduction in absence procedures, the purchase and installation of

electronic reporting systems , and the additional time required by teaching staff to deal with issues

resulting from peoples’ unacceptable absence. The National Audit Office (2005) estimates that local

authorities spend approximately £ 108 million per year on educational welfare services (much of it

on absence problems) and that some of the government funding for special initiatives aimed at

improving behavior ( £ 885 million from 1997 to 2004 with an additional £ 560 million for 2005-

06) was used to improve attendance.

Research methodology

My study is based on ethnographic methods. I have established a close and friendly relation

with my respondent which enabled me to go in depth and explore the real story. I have closely

observed his activities, taken his interviews, asked to write his day to day activities for a month. The

focus of my observation, interaction and interviews with him was on his truant activities and its

connection with his upbringing and family matters. It has been my utmost effort to deeply look back

to his childhood activities, different ups and downs in the economic condition of his family and its

impact on his parents’ relation which resulted to accelerate his tendency of bunking off school. This

study has been like a chain of different links where I have honestly tried to use my skill as a novice

researcher.

It was somewhere deep in my mind heart that I should do an ethnographic research . One

day, I had gone to a higher secondary school (+2 college what they say) to meet the principal who

happened to be my long time friend. When I reached his office, I overheard the principal and a

teacher discussing over the issues of students’ bunking off school. It was merely a coincidence. It

obviously drew my attention and asked the principal if I could, on my own, meet one of such

students and do some study on truancy. He responded me very positively and added not to forget to

show the completed study paper to him so that he could get some ideas to improve the existing

problem of ‘Bunking off’ in his school. I was excited to meet such a student so after a short chatting

I departed from my fellow principal. As I was coming to my workplace, my eyes were roaming

around if any student of my interest could be seen : it was in the afternoon. No such student was

found that day. The following day, I was passing by a bus stop and I happened to see a school boy at

his 16-17 sitting as if he had nothing to do. I went close to him and threw a strange smile but he

turned his face other side. I did not quit my effort. I met the same boy smoking in a tea shop after a

couple of days. I made sure to talk to him. I ordered a cup of tea and by the time the boy was half

way to finish his tea. It was around 1 o’clock in the afternoon. I asked him why he was not at school

. He made an excuse of headache and did not feel like going to school. This is the starting point of

my study when I came to know that the boy’s name was UMESH ( pseudo-name).

Presentation, Interpretation and Analysis

Pampered childhood

I was interested to hear the childhood of Umesh. At the beginning he was not open and

could not actually recall the memories promptly. I kept on insisting him to spare few memories of

his early age and the next day, he came to me with some interesting incidents. He said – “ So far as I

remember my father was a money lender in the village. Almost every day people would come to our

house for borrowing money. My mother was simply literate and stayed at home mostly spending her

time in the kitchen and commanding a housemaid. My only uncle was in the Indian army and was

recently married. I was the only baby in my family that’s why I was likely to get almost everything I

liked. I think I was about 8 years old and I had just joined the school. I vividly remember there was

only one teacher to teach us in the classroom. He looked very tall, stout and arrogant in nature. All

the students would get scared of him, same was the case with me. I was totally stick in the first

alphabets. Even if I recognized the nepali alphabet, I tend to forget everything when I approached

the teacher. There was nothing like sports materials and every time we were asked to recite,

memorize and recall. Now I assess the situation like being in a jail.”

While he was telling all this, I proposed him to have some snacks and tea. He agreed and we

proceeded to the nearby restaurant where we had tea and selroti (a kind of homemade Nepali

sweets).

Umesh continued his story even while having the tea, he added, “It is the matter when I was

somewhere in class IV or VI, my uncle had brought me lots of fascinating things including new

jacket, shoes, school bag and fancy notebooks. He used to sing hindi song and told the story of his

bravery in the army. I was really spellbound to listen to him. One day, two days – I felt like staying

at home. After a couple of days everyone in the family started forcing me to go to school. My

parents were , of course, upset but could not stand that bold . As an army person, my uncle was

quite strict and he really pressed me to go to school. In response , I went to the kitchen and came

out with an agulto (burning firewood) telling that I would hit with it whoever tells me to go to

school. To see me in such position my uncle uttered with hindi-mixed nepali :

“ Yo betale ramro padhla bhanera bahut achchha kitab kapi deres lyayo ahile yo halat ! ma

gyarenti garchu ye le padhe chha bhane ta ma halo jotchhu”. ( thinking that this son will

study well, I brought so many good things for him including copies, books, dresses etc. But

see him ! I bet he will not study in the future otherwise I will go to plough). At that time

ploughing by Brahmins was taken unreligious and unethical act.

Somehow I was convinced to go to school after 2-3 days. But, the situation at school was

not welcoming and it was always in my mind to make one or other excuse to leave the school.

Sometime I pretended to be sick and other time my mother is ill. Thus the days passed by without

any achievements.”

School environment changes my behavior

“It was the first day school resumed after the winter vacation, I was so delighted to see a

new teacher in my class. He was quite young, cheerful and friendly. I thanked the god !” Umesh

continued and he looked fresh in telling : In a week time, I was able to answer any questions taught

from the taught lessons. I was fully acquainted with the basic Nepali alphabets and numbers and by

the time I had started learning duna (multiplication tables). My parents were also amazed to see my

results in the final examination : I did not only fairly passed the grade but stood first. Next year and

after next year, I maintained my position and in one of the classes I was school topper and got

double promotion. I had also changed my behavior and regarded as a well-mannered student in

school. Thus the days were passing happily and successfully.

Here we can see the close link between the school environment and the child’s motivation

and academic performance.

Irregularity in school as the family atmosphere disturbs

The days of my happiness and success could not last longer. I could sense some financial

crisis in the family. My uncle separated from my parents and main source of income in the family

stopped. My father had started a factory of stationary materials in which he said he had invested

most of his cash. His past income source by lending money was also drying up as people have been

clever and did not borrow money to pay high monthly interest . Thus from all sides the economic

situation in my family was adverse. It was such a day ultimately that my parents were not able to

pay my school fees in time. They did not turn up to collect my final exam results. The result of

examination was already in the declining stage.

Truancy starts as my parents ignore my education, teachers scold

Year after year, my parents turned deaf ears in my education. I did not adequate enough

materials . There used to be frequent quarrelling between my father and mother. It definitely

disturbed my study. Several times, I went to school without completing my homework and

sometimes I went to school quite late as the food was not ready in time. The teachers started

scolding and thrashing me. I started being on and off at school. Meanwhile I also came in contact of

some boys who also preferred going to play in stead of school. They also taught me smoking. Many

days we spent just wandering around the nearby market. I know the school informed my parents at

the beginning. As they paid no attention, the school did not bother to notice any more. There was no

way I could pass the exam, I was simply detained in the same class.

Thirst of money : mummy goes to Korea

As my family was passing through a financial crisis and there was always discussion and debate

between my father and mother on ‘how to make money?’. My mummy finally decided to go to

Korea to earn money. Daddy also agreed on mummy’s proposal. She actually flew to Korea, of

course, it took some time, efforts and money to make it happen. There were little rays of hope seen

in our family that the financial situation would improve. Before her departure, my mummy

requested our phupudidi ( daddy’s sister) to stay in our home and take proper care of me. She was

widow and did not have her own family obligation so she agreed upon mummy’s proposal that she

would remain with us until mummy returns from Korea. As expected mummy started earning good

money and sent money to us from time to time. My daddy did not any particular job and spent his

time in petty politics . At this point he used have sufficient money that mummy sent from Korea. He

was least interested in my education. I also got some chunk of money so that I could lavishly spent

to lure my fellow classmate. I could not fully concentrate in the study as I was already out of track.

However, I improved slightly and passed the final examinations with fairly good marks.

Mummy brings money but not happiness in the family

“My mummy returned home after completing her 4 years tenure in Korea. It seems she earned quite

good money in Korea. Father had already bought a piece of land ghaderi with the money she sent

earlier and it was time to plan for making a new building. I did not quite understand but I could

sense there was no smooth relation between my parents. They sometime argued hours and hours for

a trivial matter.”

Thus, it was obviously seen that the family was not happy at all even if they were

comparatively well off at this point. They lacked understanding between themselves. As a result,

Umesh could not progress in his study. He was disturb and sometimes in a state of confusion. That’s

why it is rightly said money can buy everything but not happiness.

Somniloque (talking during sleep) : a nightmare in the family

It was a few months after mummy returned from Korea. She fell ill and suffered from high

fever. She was semi-unconscious. While she started talking unconsciously in sleep, my daddy was

sitting at her side in the bed. I was not able to follow everything what she uttered but it was obvious

that she was expressing about her love affairs with a man in Korea. She was desperate to see him

again. It was like a thunder stone and a nightmare in our family. It was a big excuse for my father to

accuse on my mum’s personal character. When she was little recovered, daddy was aggressive to

her and asked for clarification what she had uttered the other day. Mummy swore that it was all

nothing real and repeatedly begged for pardon. But, daddy was determined not to forgive her .

Divorce of the parents : a menace in my future

Finally , the relationship of my parents could not last any longer and they legally divorced. It

did not only break their relation but shattered my future as well. I started moving from bad to worse

situation. It really shocked me when I read the news in the local newspaper. It was now all public. I

did not feel like going to school because I knew that I would have to face many queries and

sarcasm in school. I was not sure whether I should stay with my father or mother. My mama,

maternal uncle, was worried about our pathetic situation so he decided to

Admit me to a private hostel from where I could go to school. There was no question of my liking

or disliking, I went to the hostel.

Going to school as a burden : cinema hall is better alternate

Within a week time I knew many friends in the hostel. The hostel was run only with the

business motive : not much care about the boys’ activities living in there. I found it as a storage of

garbage. Most of the boys possessed one or another kind of problem like me. What was not there –

cigarette , marijuana, filthy words and so on ? For some days at the beginning I was regular to the

school but gradually I was encircled by the bad companions. No one seemed encouraging to go to

school and work hard in study. I could not be exceptional ! Going to cinema became our part of life.

We started going to the cinema hall after school at the beginning stage and gradually we chose the

cinema hall better place than attending the boring class in school.

While describing all these events, Umesh had a mixed feeling . One day, he saw his own picture in

the national daily newspaper that put him in a state of confusion and fear. The newspaper wrote :

Bidhyarthiharu kalej chhadera sinema hal tira : +2 ma padhne katipaya bidyarthiharu

ajkal skul chhadera sinema haltira akarshit huna thaleka chhan …… katipaya abasthama

keta keti milera halma masti gareko pani dekhiyo …………. Eshko khas karan skulle ramro

rekarda rakhera abhbhabaklai khabar garna nasaknu ra abhibhabak pani afna

chhorachhori kahan janchhan kegarchhan bhanne kurako khyal narakhnale euta

samasyako rupma dekha pardai chha……………… esto mahattopurna kurama sambandhit

sabaile chaso rakhnu parne bignyaharuko raya chha. ( students to the cinema hall leaving

their schools : some of the students studying in the +2 level are being motivated towards the

cinema hall………………….in some case, boys and girls were found enjoying in the hall

…………..the main reasons behind it are said to be not proper recording of the absentees

and reporting to the parents and parents’ ignoring to the whereabouts of their children

………….it has been developing as a crucial problem in the contemporary

society……………. It is high time that concerned all pay proper attention to discourage

such unwanted activity .)

It shows that bunking off school is not an isolated problem in a child’s life. Of course, the

parents have greater responsibility but the negligence and lack of proper communication from the

school contributes to make things bad to worse. The media in the current age have played

significant role in publicizing the cases and in putting pressure to the concerned people.

Gang fighting and bitter experience in police custody

The situation became worse when Umesh was found involving in the gang fight. He was

accused of teasing girls outside the cinema hall and there was gang fight between two groups. I was

really shocked to see umesh in the police custody when I was just passing by the police station. I

could not stop going to him. When he saw me, he started crying and hugged me. I asked him what

had actually happened. He explained everything in detail. I also asked him if he had any regrets on

his past activities. His voice was obstructed but he interruptedly expressed :

Dai maile jibanma dherai hune nahune kam garen ra tesaiko phal maile aja bhogdai chhu.

Mera jiwanka sabai tita mitha kuraharu maile tapailai bhani sakeko chhu……..saknu huncha

bhane mero katha chhapi dinu hola jasle garda aru babuamalai pani euta path milos ra afna

chhorachhori kahan janchhan ke garchan khyal garun, skul le pani yo samasya antya garna

kadam chalun sathai ma jasta aparipakka keta keti pani afno bhabishyako barema sochna

thalun ……..saknu hunchha bhane malai you kes bata bachaunus……….maile aba naya

jibanko suruwad garnechhu. ( Brother ! in my life I have done many right and wrong deeds

and the consequence I am facing now. I have already told you my sweet and bitter

experiences of my life …….if possible publish my story in written so that others parents

also learn that they must take care of their children’s whereabouts and pay proper attention ,

schools also start to solve this problem. In addition, the teenagers and immature boys and

girls like me also learn the value of life and think over their future………………if you can,

please rescue me from this case………….. I will start new life.)

Thus, this study clearly indicates Bunking off or Truancy as a predictor of behavior. It is a

strong and reliable predictor of delinquent behavior, especially among males. Children who are

habitual truants are more likely to engage in undesirable and antisocial behavior such as gang

membership, marijuana use, alcohol use, inhalant and hard drug use, high risk sexual behavior,

cigarette smoking, suicidal behaviors, theft and vandalism. ( Truancy : definition, synonyms from

Answers.com)

Conclusion

Truancy is a serious problem in any communities whether it is in a developed or developing

countries. Umesh’s narration has also given some insights in this area. Within a short period of his

life, he has faced many ups and downs. His childhood was little pampered in the family and the

school was not child friendly that became a starting cause of his truancy. Later, the situational

improvement in the school helped him change his behavior and academic performance.

Family upheaval has been a key factor of his truancy. The decline of economic situation in

the family directly hampered his upbringing and education. It has also close link with the separation

of his parents which not only hindered Umesh’s schooling but also contributed to land up as a

delinquent. Finally he was seen in the police custody.

The study has also drawn attention towards the responsibility to be borne by the parents,

schools, community and the state. The first and foremost step is to involve parents in all process of

truancy prevention. The school must be in position to provide notification of their child’s absence

on the day the absence occurs. Secondly, Schools must have firm policies on the consequences for

truancy and all students should be aware of the consequences they have to face if they are absent

without excuse. Third, parents must take responsibility for keeping away their children from school.

The study shows that some state laws impose fines or jail terms on parents of truants. In this

connection, the government of Nepal should also formulate and enforce the law related to truancy.

Four and the most importantly, root causes of truancy must be addressed. As noted in the study, the

causes of truancy are complex and varied and can include smoking in the early age, drug use,

association with a peer group of truants or gangs, lack of direction in education, poor academic

performance . After analyzing the causes of truancy, the school , in close collaboration with the

parents and local community, may be able to correct or improve the problem and reduce truancy.

Finally, there should be a close link between the school, parents, local authorities, law

enforcing authority, and social service agencies including local NGOs which will lead to solutions

for truancy.

References

Benson, S. (2008, April 01) . Australia : Parents face jail for truant kids under new laws.

The Daily Telegraph. Available : www.dailytelegraph.com.au

Department of education and employment .(1996). National curriculum from policy to practice.

London : author

Hornby, A.S. (2000). Oxford advanced learner’s dictionary of current English (6th ed.).

Oxford :OUP

Inman, K. Bunking off. Available : www.channel4-family-problems and pressures

(29th November 2009)

Khatri, P. (2008). Challenges of juvenile justice system in Nepal.Kathmandu : Kathmandu

school of law , Child rights centre Nepal.

Marshall, G. (2005). Oxford dictionary of sociology (Indian ed.). New Delhi : OUP

Truancy : definition, synonyms retrieved from www.answers.com

Wilson, Valerie, Malcolm, Heather, Edward,Sheila and Davidson, Julia (2007). Bunking off :

the impact of truancy on pupils and teachers. British Educational Research Journal, 34:1,1

-17, First published on 24 September 2007 (iFirst)