More parents may face court action over failing to send their children to school, with the Ministry of Education confirming 16 chronic absence cases are currently being investigated.
The development follows news that one parent has already been prosecuted as part of the Government’s tougher stance on truancy, promoted by Associate Education Minister David Seymour, who previously said authorities would use “coercive power” against parents allowing persistent non-attendance.
The ministry said its prosecutions unit, established last year, had received 34 formal referrals linked to school absence. Seventeen of those cases were resolved before court proceedings were needed, which Seymour said showed the threat of prosecution was encouraging parents to re-enrol children.
Operational standards and support general manager Helen Hurst said the remaining cases were still being actively progressed and were often complicated, with efforts continuing to support students returning to school.
Seymour said he could not comment on the matter already before the courts, but noted the parents involved did not appear at the hearing, leading to an adjournment.
Parents convicted under attendance laws can face fines of up to $300 for a first offence and up to $3000 for repeat offending. The ministry said prosecutions were not pursued against families actively working with schools or where children faced chronic illness or disability-related health issues.
Image credit: Alam Kusuma
16 less state indoctrinated young humans annoying the international rules based tyrant Seymour.
Central government barking up the wrong tree… why don’t these kid, or the kids parents, want to go back to school.
They say often the reasons are complex, but could that be a misdirection and the reasons quite simple.