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Education officials nab 16 truants in Bartica

Feb 19, 2011 News

Sixteen children were apprehended in Bartica following a major truancy campaign conducted by the Central Ministry and the Region Seven Department of Education, Schools’ Welfare Unit on Thursday.
According to the Ministry of Education, the campaign, spearheaded by National Truancy Coordinator, Yvonne Arthur, involved Region Seven Schools’ Welfare Officers, Mareilyn Wyatt and Zulfikar Hack; Regional Probation Officer, Joycelyn Gomes, a nurse and a policeman.
The exercise was carried out at Byderabo, Dogg Point and Agatash in Bartica.
“These areas were targeted because of the high absenteeism rate of students there.
Eight of those apprehended were secondary school children; seven were from the primary level and the remainder… a nursery school child,” the Ministry said.
The children and their parents were all counselled and sensitised to the Education Act and the consequences of failing to comply with the law.
Several reasons were noted for the children not being in school, Some cited financial difficulties, some said illness and in one case… an eight-year-old was left to take care of a four-year-old child.
The Region Seven Schools’ Welfare Department also issued warning letters to two parents and one case was referred to the Regional Probation Department.
The Ministry of Human Services and Social Security Probation, Child Care and Social Security Departments also provide assistance to vulnerable children.
Arthur said that the truants will be closely monitored to ensure that they not only attend school but that they also do so regularly and punctually.
The Ministry of Education has taken a decision to prosecute parents who have abandoned their responsibility to educate their children.
This action is intended to send a clear message of its position on this matter. Child employers are also being targeted.
Arthur explained that reports from her officers have indicated that poor parenting and parental neglect were the primary causes of truancy and noted that the Schools’ Welfare Department has so far been able to place a number of children, who never attended school, in an institution of learning.
She also called on head teachers to make available to the Schools’ Welfare Department, the names of students who regularly absent themselves from school. A child can still be enrolled at a school even though the latter does not have a birth certificate, Ms Arthur said.
The former Chief Schools’ Welfare Officer explained that while the child is in school, the parent can be advised by a School’s Welfare Officer on the way forward to acquire the legal document.
Education Minister, Shaik Baksh, had announced that his Ministry will take a tougher stance against truancy. Negligent parents will be placed before the courts, he added.
He explained that his Ministry is moving in this direction because efforts to talk to some parents about the importance of educating their children were ineffective.
He added that stern action has to be taken to ensure that every child not only attend school but receive a sound education and become productive citizens in society.
The Minister said, too, that the government is providing free uniform, text books and other forms of support to students and all parents must honour their responsibility to support and educate their children.

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