Illness was the leading cause of absence in Kildare’s primary schools, while “unexplained” absences were the most common reason in secondary schools, according to new data from Tusla that was analysed by Kfm.
Kildare ranked among the top four counties nationally for primary-level absenteeism, alongside Dublin, Galway, and Carlow.
Illness was the leading cause of absence in Kildare’s primary schools, while “unexplained” absences were the most common reason in secondary schools, according to new data from Tusla that was analysed by Kfm.
Schools across the county reported a combined loss of more than 570,000 school days during the 2022/2023 academic year, as thousands of students missed significant amounts of classroom time.
The figures have prompted Education Minister, Helen McEntee, to announce a review of school starting times this September.
Figures show how both primary and post-primary schools in the county are still grappling with high rates of absenteeism in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Kildare’s primary schools, 20,747 students were enrolled in responding schools.
5,508 students (26.6%) missed 20 days or more.
302,087 school days were lost in total.
Post-primary schools in the county reported similar figures.
13,602 students were enrolled in responding schools, with 3,020 students (22.2%) missing 20 days or more.
268,026 school days were lost in total.
Only mainstream schools were used in the analysis, with special schools excluded.
A media campaign will be launched by the Government later this year to highlight the importance of school attendance.
It's one of a number of measures being introduced to tackle growing rates of absenteeism.
A framework to help schools analyse data to make better decisions, and a review of school starting times are also being brought in this September.
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