Teachers' experiences with the Back2School intervention-a pilot study addressing problematic school absenteeism

Area of Science:

• Education
• Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• School absenteeism is a significant concern for students, educators, and parents.
• Teacher involvement is crucial for effective absenteeism interventions.
• Limited research exists on teachers' perspectives of manual-based interventions for school attendance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore teachers' experiences with the manual-based Back2School (B2S) intervention.
• To understand teachers' perspectives on participating in indicated interventions for school attendance.

Main Methods:

• Individual interviews were conducted with seven primary and lower secondary school teachers.
• Teachers had participated in various aspects of the Back2School intervention.

Main Results:

• Some teachers reported increased competence and self-efficacy in addressing school absenteeism post-intervention.
• Other teachers did not experience this increase in competence or self-efficacy.

Conclusions:

• Future Back2School interventions require greater clarity regarding teacher roles.
• Enhanced teacher involvement is recommended for future school absenteeism programs.