Programme aims to keep children at school

A PROGRAMME is being drafted with the aim of keeping children in school and their parents out of the courts.

The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) said work had begun on a plan with other agencies aimed at “attendance, participation and retention” of children at school until the completion of second level.

Under a new integration plan the NEWB — which monitors attendance and issues summonses against parents if their children fail to attend — and other bodies such as the School Completion Programme and home school liaison officers will work together to ensure that greater numbers of children stay in the school system.

According to the NEWB school absenteeism rates have stayed at similar levels to those three years ago, when the percentage of student/days lost through absence was running at more than 6% in primary schools and about 8% in post-primary schools.

Figures for 2009 are expected to be published shortly, but statistics for the number of prosecutions brought against parents last year show that the number of convictions is increasing.

Persistent non-attendance of children at school results in the issuing of a School Attendance Notice (SAN), after which an education welfare officer begins a formal monitoring process.

If the situation does not improve then a summons is issued. Last year a record 410 SANs were issued and a record 94 new summonses were issued.

There were 52 convictions in the district courts last year, also a record, and at least 10 people were sent to prison for failing to send their children to school.

Michael Doyle, NEWB regional manager, said more convictions were inevitable given the rising number of SANs being issued against parents.

“Last year would have seen the highest number of parents committed,” he said.

The integration programme, first flagged in 2009, will be implemented this year and Mr Doyle said: “We hope to have a plan in place by the end of this calendar year. It will mean a greater level of co-operation internally and externally with schools.”

He said the integration of various agencies involved in schooling as “a significant step”, as was the appointment of a new chief executive at the NEWB this week.