August 05, 2016
Truancy still low priority
Labour education spokesperson Chris Hipkins says National is failing to tackle truancy, to the detriment of thousands of Maori and Pasifika students.
Education Minister Hekia Parata has released figures showing student stand-downs, suspensions and exclusions last year were at their lowest levels since records began 16 years ago, and attendance figures had also improved on 2014.
But Mr Hipkins says both the truancy rate and the number of frequent truants remain higher than two years ago.
He says tackling truancy was one of National’s major commitments in 2008 but it has done little to solve what is one of the most pressing issues in education.
Maori and Pasifika students are overly represented in the truancy figures, and the rates in low decile schools are up to twice the average.
Mr Hipkins says Labour’s policy to integrate careers advice into learning will encourage students to become personally invested in their futures and keep attending class.
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