'Rising' absences from school a 'major concern'

Deputy Paul Montague said rising absences at school were a concern for everyone in education

Absences from Guernsey's schools are on the rise according to the president of the island's education committee.

Deputy Paul Montague described it as a "major concern", while Health and Social Care Committee (HSC) president George Oswald said referrals to children's services had doubled compared to pre-pandemic levels.

Oswald said the multi-agency safeguarding hub was currently receiving about 200 referrals every month.

Facing questions in Guernsey's States, Montague said: "We cannot continue with these extremely high rates of lack of attendance at school."

Questioning Montague in the States Assembly, Oswald said in the last political term former ESC President Andrea Dudley-Owen had said levels of absence from schools "in April was about 16%."

Oswald described that figure as an "underestimation".

Absenteeism a 'tragedy'

After hearing in the States from Montague, Oswald described the problem as a "major issue" for both HSC and Education, Sport and Culture (ESC).

"I think we all should be concerned," he said.

"In terms of long-term cost to the state, it's going to be high in terms of benefit payments, not only do they lose their life choices, which is a tragedy in itself, but they'll become potentially dependent on benefits from the State system, so it adds to our bill overall."

Under questioning in the States, Montague did not have exact figures on levels of absenteeism to hand.

'Get to grips'

He said there was not just one cause for absenteeism in school.

"Obviously it is concerning for the individual and their families.

"It is going to blight their life chances if they don't attend school.

"It also has an impact on their classmates in class for that disruption and it has a huge impact on teacher workload.

"So it really is something we've got to get to grips with as everyone in education is concerned about it."