Truancy figures - Life-defining opportunity

ONE of the most disheartening sights in our country is that of people who should be at school turning their backs to the opportunities offered by education.

Thankfully the problem is being tackled as the National Educational Welfare Board have opened record number of prosecutions against parents who do not ensure that their children are at school. More than 10 people were jailed for not sending their children to school last year and though it is hard to see how a custodial sentence is the best answer it is good to see the issue being treated so seriously.

There are very many layers to this problem. A child may have fallen too far behind in the earliest years at school, there may be family apathy towards education or an individual may not be suited to the options available. It is more than likely though that by not insuring a child makes the best of the educational opportunities available to them that they will face a stressful life of dependency and exploitation. School is worth the effort.