Fines are not the answer

BEFORE the Government moves to impose fines and jail sentences on parents of truant children it should put its own house in order.

To date, only 62 educational welfare officers out of 300 approved by the Department of Education have been appointed

As the Parents’ Council rightly points out, the swingeing plan to fine parents amid a shortage of truant officers shows a distinct lack of “joined-up thinking” from the Government.

It would be hard to disagree with the council’s view that fines might be an acceptable deterrent to prevent middle-class parents keeping their children out of school to take them on holiday or for some other frivolous reasons.

However, they are hardly a viable solution to the problem of low school attendance in disadvantaged areas.

Typifying the Coalition’s draconian approach to certain problems, the truancy plan is impractical and should be replaced with more appropriate measures.