Children’s school attendance will be monitored. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli

Parents will not get the €400 benefit if their children miss more than nine days of school in a year without a valid reason, according to the Social Solidarity Minister.

Michael Farrugia said parents whose children were off on a minimal amount of school days would not be affected because the idea was to fight habitual and unjustified absenteeism.

He was speaking during the publication of a joint policy document issued by the social solidarity and education ministries.

“I have received hundreds of e-mails from parents who were worried that they would not receive the benefit if their children missed school for just a few days. This will not be the case,” he said.

Children who attended at least 95 per cent of the school year would still be eligible, he added.

The benefit will mean families with a maximum net annual income of €11,000 receive €400 for each of the first three children and a further €200 per additional child. Some 23,000 children coming from at least 13,000 families are expected to benefit from the scheme.

Dr Farrugia said the funds, which would be provided at the beginning of next scholastic year, would be given to families whose children were certified as being regular attendees by the Education Ministry.

This is often a family problem and not the child’s fault. We want to help put an end to this

“Education officials will take note of those children who attend their lessons. They will then keep us informed of those who do not,” Dr Farrugia said. He added that every family that did not meet the government’s standards would be visited to see why children were not attending school.

“This is often a family problem and not the child’s fault. We want to help put an end to this,” he said.

Education Minister Evarist Bartolo pointed out that the measures were not as harsh as many had feared.

“Parents are concerned they will still have to send their children to school even when this is impossible. This will not be the case,” he said.

But he would no longer tolerate abuse of health certificates to justify excessive truancy.

Eyebrows had been raised when Dr Farrugia last month said parents would have to present health certificates even if children missed a single day of school.

Mr Bartolo said yesterday the government would be “prudent but not draconian”.

Dr Farrugia clarified that the government’s strategy was not only an educational one but was also aimed at combating intergenerational poverty.

“This is about helping children to no longer perpetuate their parents’ legacy of poverty.

“We want to drag people out of the benefit trap,” he said.