Poverty not linked with truancy levels

CHILDREN from poor families are no more likely to miss school regularly than other children.

The research finding is at odds with the claims of most education experts that pupils from disadvantaged areas, or whose parents depend on social welfare, have the highest rates of absenteeism and dropping out of school.

Dr Kevin Denny from UCD’s Institute for the Study of Social Change (ISSC) said school-experience issues such as class size and attitude to teachers are more likely to have an influence rather than poverty or wealth.