School absenteeism - Education for everyone

AS parents know, the early days of a child’s education are important for their growing up and preparation for life.

In school, children learn literacy and numeracy skills, along with norms of social behaviour, which are the twin bedrocks of every citizen.

Given the significance of early school days, it is startling that Ireland’s law on truancy is way out of kilter with patterns of school attendance. As today’s report shows, a staggering 98% of children are outside the law on school absenteeism for at least the first term of junior infants.