Home News Latest News School absenteeism level causing concern

School absenteeism level causing concern

Thursday, 11 March 2010

A NORTHSIDE public representative and school principal has called on the Department of Education to tackle the problem of school absenteeism among children under the age of six. Clontarf ward councillor Aodhan O’Riordain (Lab), who is principal at a north inner city school, said thousands of school days were being lost by four and five-year-olds every year.  Cllr Ó Ríordáin said children were missing vital days each year because of a loophole that prevents their absence being investigated. He highlighted the powerlessness of the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB), established to monitor school attendance, to investigate absenteeism among schoolchildren under the age of six. The board, established under the Educational Welfare Act 2000, is required to investigate cases of school absenteeism. However, one provision within the 2000 Education Welfare Act states that the functions of the National Educational Welfare Board are limited to children between the ages of six and 16. Cllr O’Riordain pointed out that there was no statutory requirement for children to be enrolled in school before the age of six. “This means that teachers, principals and National Educational Welfare Board officers are powerless to intervene in a case of chronic absenteeism of a child who is enrolled in a school under that age,” he stated. Cllr O’Riordain said this was the most important developmental stage in a child's education. He called for legislation to be amended to ensure that wherever a child is enrolled in a school that the powers afforded to the NEWB under the Educational Welfare Act can be enforced, regardless of the child's age. “Such a change would ensure that those in the school community and those charged with the responsibility of monitoring school attendance can make the maximum difference at the earliest opportunity,” he added. A spokesman for the Department of Education said they have adopted a broad-based approach to tackling school attendance and participation. This includes the work of the NEWB, which is established under the Education Welfare Act 2000, the School Completion Programme (SCP), the Home School Community Liaison Scheme (HSCL) and the Visiting Teachers Service for Travellers (VTST). “These services are preventative measures designed to combat issues of poor attendance and early school leaving,” he told Northside People. “Under the act, parents whose children are aged between six and 16 years have a responsibility to ensure that their child does not miss out on education. “If their child is enrolled in a school then it is the responsibility of the parent to ensure that their child attends school.” The spokesman said schools were required under the act to maintain a register and to report on attendance of all students annually. “Education welfare officers consult with the students concerned, their parents, the school and any other appropriate person and make all reasonable efforts to ensure that provision is made for the continued education of the children and their full participation in school,” he added. “At present there are no proposals to amend the existing legislation.”