9. LOUISE UPSTON (National—Taupō) Link to this
to the Minister of Education
What were the findings of the survey Attendance in New Zealand Schools in 2009, and what is the Government’s response?
Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister of Education) Link to this
The 2009 truancy survey results show that just over 30,000 students are truant from State and State-integrated schools on any given day. This Government has doubled the funding available to support schools to reduce truancy.
The last survey was taken in 2006, and it showed that up to 30,000 children—that is, 4.1 percent—of the 750,000 primary and high school pupils nationwide skipped school in the survey week. The 2009 figures show almost identical figures. These figures show that Labour did absolutely nothing to address this very serious issue. It even tried to hide the extent of the problem from New Zealand by cancelling the 2008 truancy survey. This Government is committed to reducing truancy and keeping our students engaged at school.