Result of Education Ministry’s anti-truancy campaign
Seven parents from Region Six (East Berbice/ Corentyne) are scheduled to appear in court tomorrow after being deemed negligent by the Education Ministry following its revamped efforts to address truancy.
These are the first to be prosecuted under the Education Ministry’s new initiative to hold the caretakers of truants accountable.
Senior Schools Welfare Officer Ms. Carol Melville, in an invited comment yesterday, said the problem of truancy is a growing one and the effort helps parent acknowledge the benefits of an education.
According to her, for the academic year 2009 to 2010, there have been a total of 13 truancy campaigns that rounded up some 165 truants.
“Out of the 165 children, 17 were not in school and two were placed in Nursery, 10 in primary school and five have been enrolled in secondary school,” she said.
Another campaign is scheduled for Friday in Sophia by the Schools Welfare Department –Region Four (Demerara/ Mahaica).
According to Melville, the campaign will target students who are not attending schools, never attended school and truants.
The objectives of the exercise are to ensure that all school-aged children attend school and to educate the public on the laws governing the education of children.
Education Minister Shaik Baksh said his ministry remains open to working with parents  to improve the children’s performance.
He noted that his ministry’s tougher stand against truancy is a move that has been decided upon after initial efforts to talk to parents have failed.
The minister had also noted that truancy is a problem that needs to be addressed by stern action to ensure children attend school, receive a proper education, and become productive citizens in society.
Minister Baksh’s charge to parents at the start of the campaign has centered on the need for them to monitor their children’s behavior and to pay closer attention to their education.