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04/11/2004
NI truancy levels double that of English schools
A report published today by the Northern Ireland Audit Office has revealed that truancy levels in the province’s schools are twice that of school’s in England.
Figures in the ‘Improving Pupil Attendence At School’ show that truancy levels in English post-primary schools are 1.7%, compared with 2.35% in Northern Ireland. At one extreme, the report found it to be as high as 11% in two schools in Belfast.
Other findings in the report showed that on any one day, nearly 5,000 pupils could be absent from Northern Ireland schools without a valid reason.
During 2002-03, 3,012 primary school pupils (1.8%) and an alarming 8,732 post-primary pupils (5.6%) were referred to the Education and Library Boards’ Education Welfare Service (EWS) as persistent or chronic non-attenders.
In the three years up to 2002-03 there was a 70% increase in EWS referrals among primary school pupils at Key Stage 1 (age 8).
Annually, resources amounting to around £12 million are provided for these absent pupils, however the report contended that the real cost of poor attendance was to be found later in life with poor employment prospects.
The Comptroller and Auditor General's report on Improving Pupil Attendance at School is available online at www.niauditoffice.gov.uk.
(MB/SP)
Figures in the ‘Improving Pupil Attendence At School’ show that truancy levels in English post-primary schools are 1.7%, compared with 2.35% in Northern Ireland. At one extreme, the report found it to be as high as 11% in two schools in Belfast.
Other findings in the report showed that on any one day, nearly 5,000 pupils could be absent from Northern Ireland schools without a valid reason.
During 2002-03, 3,012 primary school pupils (1.8%) and an alarming 8,732 post-primary pupils (5.6%) were referred to the Education and Library Boards’ Education Welfare Service (EWS) as persistent or chronic non-attenders.
In the three years up to 2002-03 there was a 70% increase in EWS referrals among primary school pupils at Key Stage 1 (age 8).
Annually, resources amounting to around £12 million are provided for these absent pupils, however the report contended that the real cost of poor attendance was to be found later in life with poor employment prospects.
The Comptroller and Auditor General's report on Improving Pupil Attendance at School is available online at www.niauditoffice.gov.uk.
(MB/SP)
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