Over 1,200 Leitrim children missed more than 20 days of school last year

A report from the child and family agency Tusla has shown that for the 2023/2024 school year, 94,501 primary school students missed more than 20 days of school, and 67,613 secondary school students missed more than 20 days.

The data, published on September 24, showed that 1,218 students in Leitrim, across primary and secondary schools, missed more than 20 days.

Nationwide, the figures indicate that more than one in five children and young people at primary and post-primary level miss more than 20 days of their school year.

Minister for Education, Helen McEntee TD, in partnership with the Tusla Education Support Service (TESS), has announced the launch of a nationwide multimedia campaign to promote regular school attendance across Ireland.

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This includes the rollout of the Anseo framework, which will run across television, radio, print, and social media, and aims to encourage everyone, including parents, guardians, and teachers, to prioritise regular school attendance.

Phase one of the rollout began this month in 60 schools, with full implementation planned for all schools by 2028.

In Leitrim, one school was included in phase one of Anseo, Scoil Mhuire in Carrick-on-Shannon.

Minister McEntee has said that while the reduction in the total number of days lost was positive, the level of absenteeism in schools remains far too high.

Áine O’Keeffe, Director of TESS, said, “Increasing school attendance is the key function of TESS. We are very excited to launch, together with Minister McEntee, a new national multimedia campaign aimed at raising awareness around the often-underestimated impact of missed school days here and there and leading those who are responsible for school-going children to supportive resources to improve daily attendance.

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“TESS is also delighted with the overwhelmingly positive response the Anseo Framework has received from schools around Ireland. We are rolling it out to 60 more schools this term, with the potential to introduce it to many more in the current school year and to all schools by 2028.”