Cyber-truancy in Vocational Training Institutes: Students Characteristics and perceptions

Abstract

With online learning in place during the Covid-19 pandemic, cyber-truancy presents a unique challenge to be addressed. Therefore, contributing factors need to be investigated, as they could be relatively different from those factors related to traditional truancy. Some of these factors are related to students' backgrounds, experiences and expectations, motivation, self-efficacy, and computer self-efficacy. A cross-sectional survey, with students sampled representing a specific point in time, was designed to assess whether students' characteristics have an impact on their attendance. The survey was distributed to students in a governmental vocational institute located in Al Ain city in the UAE: 27 male and 277 female students having an absenteeism rate ranged from 0 to 27.13% with a mean of 6.29 to examine the correlation of students' attitudes and their attendance. The survey was followed by interviews with 6 students; three students with poor attendance, and three good attendance rate.