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September 07, 2022
Taitokerau truancy diplomacy working
Peter Verschaffelt
Posted On September 7, 2022
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A campaign which uses kids to encourage absent classmates back to school is having good results.
Download AudioA campaign which uses kids to encourage absent classmates back to school is having good results.
Te Tai Tokerau Principals Association president Pat Newman says as many as third of children in the region haven’t been showing up consistently.
He says the campaign treats them not as truants but kids missing out on what’s on offer.
“It’s early days but I know Manaia View School have ahd two classes hit 100 percent attendance in the past couple of weeks, Other schools are talking 5 percent return increase. It’s slow but it’s better than what we had,” he says.
Mr Newman says each of the 150 schools in Te Tai Tokerau is doing its own thing to work with families and the community to make it easier for children to get to school.
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