Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 June 2012
238 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will detail truancy levels experienced in the education system in each year since the National Educational Welfare Board was established; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31317/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra239 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide the most recent truancy levels on a county basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31318/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra240 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will provide the most recent truancy levels for Dublin on an area basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31319/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra241 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will outline the progress made to date in tackling truancy in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31320/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 238 to 241, inclusive, together.
Since the commencement of the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000 all recognised schools are obliged to submit an Annual Attendance Report to the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) on the levels of school attendance each year. An overall analysis and reportderived from this data is produced by the Education Research Centre (ERC) on behalf of the NEWB.
The Deputy may be aware that I launched the publication of the most recent data for the 2009/2010 school year on 7th June 2012. This is the sixth in a series of reports based on data collected by the NEWB on non-attendance in primary and post-primary schools through the Annual Attendance Report. Data for the years 2003/04 through to 2008/09 are the focus of earlier reports which can be used to monitor the levels of attendance, expulsions and suspensions across all of the country's primary and post-primary schools. The latest report deals with data for the academic year 2009/10 and links to the data reported previously. These reports are available in full on the website of the NEWB atwww.newb.ie and will provide the Deputy with access to the information sought.
I am advised by the Board that data is not collated in such a way as to allow all the breakdowns requested. Specifically, information is not published below county level as the Board is prohibited under the Education Act, 1998 from producing information that may identify individual schools and lead to the formulation of league tables.
Combating the issues underlying poor attendance requires concerted action and close collaboration among schools, school support services and other stakeholders involved with children, young people and their families. The complex issue of school attendance has been the subject of significant policy attention in recent decades and was addressed systematically in the Education (Welfare) Act 2000. This Act established the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) in 2002 — mandating it with supervising and implementing the provisions of the Act to effectively ensure that "each child attends a recognised school or otherwise receives a certain minimum education”. The legislation establishes a framework for promoting regular school attendance, participation and retention as well as tackling the manifold problems of absenteeism and early school leaving. In particular, the NEWB has a key role in responding to instances where children are not attending school regularly, or where there is concern about a child’s educational welfare. The Act also charges the NEWB with responsibility to maintain a register of children who are being educated outside of recognised schools.
Since mid-2009 the Board has an expanded remit which includes responsibility for the Home School Community Liaison scheme and the School Completion Programme in addition to the Educational Welfare Service. Under the extended remit, the Board is obliged to devise and implement a single strategic approach to school attendance, participation and retention. The integration process has been firmly centred upon the requirement to build a unified education support service guided and informed by research evidence, policy and the experience of teachers, parents, students, service staff and communities. The Board is planning to commence implementation of an integrated practice framework and case management system based on the principle of "One Child, One Team, One Plan” for the coming academic year (September 2012). This integrated service model is designed to respond to the complexity of issues that impact on school attendance, participation and retention.
From the analysis of the most recent data available the Board reports a number of positive developments which reflect an enhanced focus on school attendance and retention:
There has been the highest annual attendance returns ever to the NEWB from schools in 2009/10: 97% from Primary and 96% from Post Primary;
In 09-10 69,471 days less than 08-09 have been lost through student absences (on a % comparison);
The numbers of student days lost in 09/10 (taking primary and post primary schools together) is running at 6.8% and is at the lower end for the five year period 2005 to 2010;
The percentage of students who sit the Leaving Certificate overall has risen by more than 6% to 87.7% in eight years.
The progress being achieved demonstrates an important return on the State's investment as we know that, for every child diverted from early school leaving and towards higher educational achievement there are considerable long-term social and economic benefits. Although absenteeism reduced in 2009/2010 the number of children who miss school each day remains a significant cause for concern and identifies the need for a sustained and focussed approach to supporting student attendance, participation and retention. Therefore, we must ensure that available resources continue to be effectively targeted at those most at risk of educational disadvantage.
The Deputy may also wish to note that the National Educational Welfare Board has initiated a National Attendance Awards programme this year which acknowledges the outstanding achievement of so many children who have excellent attendance in schools all around the country. It is also an endeavour to acknowledge the massive contribution of schools and parents in supporting children to make school a priority. In addition, the Board is working to produce Guidelines for Schools on the Development of Attendance Strategies as outlined in Section 22 of the Education (Welfare) Act, 2000. Formal guidance will provide clarity to schools in terms of responsibilities under the Act and practical support towards enabling children to maximise their attendance, participation and retention in schools. This is a significant piece of work which draws on the experience and knowledge of a range of expertise and will be available to schools in the next academic year.
