The Importance of School Attendance

When we determine the factors contributing to a child’s or adolescent’s wellbeing, school attendance ranks marginally below good health. Regular school attendance is crucial to the development and education of children.

There is a large impact on the student, the School and the community when a student does not attend school regularly. Community concern about school attendance is reflected in laws relating to parent responsibility for ensuring children attend school, and recent public debate about penalising parents who do not send their children to school regularly.

Early Development

As a child learns to read and acquires basic Mathematics and language skills, it is important that these be practiced daily.  

Socialisation 

Children begin to learn how to socialise with others, follow directions and solve problems creatively while at school. If a child is not part of the classroom, some of these social skills cannot be practiced. 

Impact on other Students 

When a child is continually absent from school, he or she falls behind in his or her class work and requires extra time and attention from the teacher in order to catch up. This draws the teacher away from other students in the class who may also need assistance.  

Impact on the Community 

Studies have indicated that students who are not in class may be more likely to commit crimes, costing the community time and money. Students learn to become good citizens through lessons at school and mentoring by adults.

Coping Skills

One of the most important skills for children to learn is perseverance. In fact, Michael Carr-Gregg, popular psychologist and author, ranks perseverance as the crucial skill in school success. Children learn avoidance if they are allowed to miss school for minor reasons.

A parent would not hesitate to take their child to the doctor if they were sick. It’s as important that parents not allow children to miss school for excuses such as birthdays, minor illnesses, difficulty in getting to school, tiredness or separation anxiety. It’s not okay to stay away.

Alan Clarke

Psychologist