Truancy in scholastic year 2013/2014 was down by 15.9 per cent when compared to the previous year, the National Statistics office said today.

It amounted to 597,239 days, equivalent to an average of 13.0 absent days per student.

Total authorised absences decreased by 24.6 per cent and made up 54.9 per cent of total absences. Total unauthorised absences also showed a decrease of 2.2 per cent.

In March last year, Education Minister Evarist Bartolo admitted in parliament that while a scheme where low-income parents get a grant as long as their children do not miss school had drastically cut truancy, it had also contributed to the spread of illnesses.

Replying to questions  by Nationalist MP Michael Gonzi, Mr Bartolo said the scheme had drastically reduced absenteeism in all areas, even where truancy was high. This was borne out by data.

However there was also anecdotal evidence that some parents had sent sick children to school, not just because they did not have doctors' certificates but, admittedly, because of financial reasons.

It was a matter which needed to be seen in more detail.

The NSO in its statement today said the average number of absences during 2013-2014  stood at 13.0 days per student, decreasing by 2.4 per cent when compared with levels for the previous academic year. On average students recorded 7.2 days of authorised and 5.9 days of unauthorised absence in one scholastic year.

Boys recorded higher levels of absenteeism when compared to girls: most of these were classified as authorised. The average level of absence among boys was found to be higher or equal to that of girls for all levels of education.

Student absenteeism in state schools decreased by 22.4 per cent during 2013/2014. Most of these absences were unauthorised. Unauthorised absences in state schools decreased by 4.9 per cent.

In contrast church and independent schools saw a drop in authorised absences and an increase in unauthorised absences. 

The lowest absence levels were recorded among nine year olds at 8.1 days. On the other hand 16-year-olds held the highest average levels of absenteeism.

Students attending state schools in Gozo registered the sharpest drop in their absence levels (49.9 per cent). On average, students attending state schools located in the South Harbour district accumulated the highest average number of absences (20.1 days per student), while Gozitan students recorded the lowest average number of absences with 9.8 days per student.

See also http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20140725/local/Parents-of-truants-to-face-court.529096