Over the years, we’ve seen fluctuating school attendance and engagement, especially from socioeconomically disadvantaged children. Either they don't have enough motivation to attend school because of their neighborhood or insufficient mentors they can imitate. Sometimes, the parents withdraw these children from school to work with a distant relative or a madam in the big city so the child can support the meager household income. A few times, the bias against the girl-child due to prevailing archaic customs and traditions can be a factor.

Recently, there have been collaborative and innovative efforts by educators and parents to stabilize and improve school attendance and engagement. A few solutions were to provide financial incentives for low-income families to minimize the withdrawal of their children from school, demystify the girl-child biases, make school and the learning material affordable, and others.

The other side of this challenge was how to sustain the children’s interest in academic learning. One powerful tool that has been utilized and gained momentum with its positive impact is music education.

According to Music Education Statistics, schools with music programs have an estimated 90.2% graduation rate and 93.9% attendance rate compared to schools without music education, which average 72.9% graduation and 84.9% attendance. Schools that have music programs have an attendance rate of 93.3% compared to 84.9% in schools without music programs. This emphasizes the impact of music integration into the academic curriculum. Music education not only enriches the pupils’ learning experience, but it contributes to improved attendance rates and overall academic performance.

Why did the integration of music into school curriculum make a difference? Oxford Academics revealed that music education facilitates opportunities for self-expression, allowing individuals to express their own emotions, feelings, and identity through music. This means that children learning music find a way to express themselves in school and have a sense of belonging and purpose there, thus motivating them to be consistent in attendance.

With continual studies in music education, the pupils will begin to appreciate music and have a better understanding of music and its impact on their social and emotional well-being.

Also, as pupils master a musical instrument or excel in the choir, they would develop a tangible sense of achievement. This accomplishment will not only bolster their confidence but also reinforce their capacity to achieve more, instill a strong work ethic, and an undaunting belief in their abilities to overcome challenges. With each musical milestone reached, pupils will develop a sense of pride and motivation, driving them to attend school consistently to continue their musical growth.

In conclusion, the integration of music education into the academic curriculum will not only nurture musical or creative capacities in children but also help develop a sense of commitment to the task, and improve self-discipline, and engagement at schools.

Armed with these benefits, Foster by African Music Library, a music education mission is working with schools - both government-owned and private schools in low-income neighborhoods - to provide free music education to their pupils. But how would young learners, especially those from socially economically disadvantaged communities, partake of these outlined benefits if they do not have access to music?

At Foster by African Music Library, our singular mission is to provide these children with free music education to help nurture their creative aspirations. If you would love to be part of this great work, please sign up here.

Together, we can help pupils across Africa experience the transformative power of music and become more motivated to attend school regularly, eager to continue their musical journey, and be part of a vibrant, inclusive learning environment.

Music Education and School Attendance: Striking a Harmonious Chord

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