The Ministry of Education said 55 parents have been charged with neglecting their children, after it stepped up its truancy campaign last year.
In a press release, the ministry said it had taken a decision to prosecute parents who have abandoned their responsibility to educate their children, despite assistance from the government and other support agencies.
According to the ministry, “Reports from school welfare officers have indicated that poor parenting and parental neglect are the primary causes of truancy” and the Schools Welfare Department has so far been able to place a number of children who never attended school or an institution of learning. Child employers are also being targeted in this anti-truancy exercise.
National Truancy Coordinator Yvonne Arthur is calling on head teachers to make available to the Schools Welfare Department the names of students who are regularly absent. She also pointed out that a child can still be enrolled at a school without a birth certificate. The former Chief Schools Welfare Officer explained that while the child is in school, the parent can be advised by a schools welfare officer on the way forward to acquire the document.
Minister of Education Shaik Baksh said that his ministry is moving to prosecute negligent parents as efforts to persuade them to honour their responsibilities have been futile.
He said stern action has to be taken to ensure that every child attends school, receives a sound education and becomes a productive citizen in society. Baksh also pointed out that the government offers a number of free services and support to parents to ensure that they enrol their children in school.
Government provides free uniforms, text books and other forms of support for students and parents can access more support services through the Human Services Ministry, the Child Care and Social Security Departments.
