SELECT student_id,
       COUNT(attendance)
FROM   student_attendance
WHERE  attendance = 'ABSENT'
GROUP  BY student_id
HAVING COUNT(attendance) = (SELECT max_allowed
                            FROM   configurations);

SELECT student_id,
       COUNT(attendance)
FROM   student_attendance,
       configurations c
WHERE  attendance = 'ABSENT'
GROUP  BY student_id
HAVING COUNT(attendance) = c.max_allowed;