‘Monthly three-day leave’ mentality must be abolished – Education Minister

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The Education Ministry, with the help of the Ministry for Home Affairs and the Ministry for Justice, is in the process of launching a new policy and enforce existing ones in order to fight truancy.

Figures published by MaltaToday on Sunday confirm that 7.7% of students attending public secondary schools and 235 students attending public primary schools missed school for 31 days and more.

An unofficial, informal decision allows students to miss three days from school every month without requiring them to present a medical certificate. The practice is set to be abolished by the coming scholastic year.

“It is unacceptable that children think they have a right to a three-day leave from school every month. The mentality must clearly be abolished. We will soon be launching a policy, and for it to be credible we will also ensure enforcement,” Education Minister Evarist Bartolo told MaltaToday.

The informal nature of the system made data collection on truancy even harder. Different departments within the same ministry had different data collection methodologies and statistics. 

Heads of schools also complained over the lack of support from authorities. Over the past four years, 1,399 parents were accused of not sending their children to school and over €1.4 million in fines to parents are yet to be collected.

“Heads of schools want the law to be enforced. As educators, we have to ensure that students feel welcome at school and not give them reasons to avoid coming to school. On the other hand, parents have to understand that it is their responsibility to ensure that their children go to school,” Bartolo said.

The minister also urged family doctors to be more responsible when issuing medical certificates.

“There are parents who go doctor hopping, seeking medical certificates from different doctors for their children to justify their absence,” he said.

When education and social support fail, the ministry will also be seeking the help of police to enforce the law.