School absenteeism

Abstract

Together with such problems as literacy and bullying, absenteeism from school constitutes one of the greatest threats facing our educational system, as is the case in other countries. In the United Kingdom, for instance, about 24 per cent of secondary school children absent themselves from school for one reason or another; from 3 to 7 per cent are absent for some valid reason. At a time when all the stakeholders in education in this country are preparing themselves (not without enthusiasm and commitment, it needs to be said) for the implementation of some of the many important reforms contemplated by the National Minimum Curriculum, let us not think or dare hope that the problems that plague the educational system will simply disappear the moment we head along the road of the much- needed and long-awaited reforms. The problems that threaten our educational system, including absenteeism, have been long in the pipel ine. Dealing with them will require incessant effort and time.