David Seymour praises improvements in school attendance rate

The attendance rate has increased to 83.9% over the past two weeks, with the highest attendance recorded on the first Tuesday of the term at 86.2%.

Associate Education Minister David Seymour has praised recent improvements in school attendance, noting that the first two weeks of term three have shown positive results. "When the government takes education seriously, so do New Zealanders," Mr. Seymour stated.

The attendance rate has increased to 83.9% over the past two weeks, with the highest attendance recorded on the first Tuesday of the term at 86.2%. However, Fridays continue to be a challenge, with lower attendance compared to other days. "I encourage parents to consider the long-term impact of missing Fridays, both in terms of lost education and establishing good habits for future employment," Mr. Seymour advised.

Auckland Central and East reported the highest attendance rates at 86.9% and demonstrated less drop-off on Fridays compared to other regions. Despite these improvements, the Government's target remains ambitious: ensuring 80% of students are present for over 90% of the term by 2030. Mr. Seymour is urging schools to aim for an average daily attendance rate above 94% to meet this goal.

The Government is committed to using high-quality attendance data to help students, parents, and school communities address absenteeism and emphasize the importance of regular school attendance. Additionally, significant improvements are being made to the literacy and maths curriculum to support student learning.

The Attendance Action Plan will continue to be implemented throughout 2024, with updates on a new traffic light system expected later in the year. "Addressing truancy is crucial. If not tackled, it could cast an 80-year shadow of disadvantage, impacting individuals' ability to work, participate in society, and increasing reliance on benefits," Mr. Seymour concluded.