This study aimed at finding out factors affecting pupils’ absenteeism at Felicomfort JHS at Amamoma within the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. The total population was 145 covering the JHS1, JHS2, JHS3 pupils and teachers of the school. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 34 respondents. These were made up of 10 out of 15 teachers, 10 parents out of 53 and 14 pupils out of their accessible population of 56. Pretest, posttest, questionnaires and interviews were used to collect data from respondents. Case study design was used for the study and data analysis was done, using mean values, frequency and percentage counts with the Predictive Analytical Software (PASW) version 21. Key findings of the study indicated that 71.4 percent of absenteeism was due to teachers’ inability to care and find out from pupils the cause of their absenteeism, while 70 percent of respondents indicated that parental lack of care was the major cause of their absenteeism. However, majority (10) of respondents (71%) disagreed that pupils’ attitudes were part of the contributory factors to their habitual absenteeism. The overall percentage mean (58%) representing 8 of the pupils discounted teacher factor as responsible for their absenteeism. It was recommended that government through the District Assemblies offer some financial assistance to poor and single parents to enable them to adequately cater for their wards at school.

The study examined factors influencing students’ choice of programme of study at the College of Distance Education, University of Cape Coast. The study adopted the pragmatist’s approach from the positivist perspective. Specifically, the study used descriptive research design. Simple random sampling techniques were used to draw a sample of 2324 students at all levels from the 63 study centers (those offering education programmes) across all regions of Ghana. Data collection instruments were self-administered questionnaire. Survey data was analysed using descriptive statistics, specifically, frequencies and percentages. The study discovered that students’ personal interest for a particular programme, ambition or aspiration in life and credibility of the institutional certificate influence their choice of selection of a programme of study at UCC-CoDE. It was recommended that management of the College of Distance Education and all institutions running distance learning programmes should tailor curriculum of academic programmes to meet the interest and aspirations of applicants.