48 Sophia children found absent from school

Mar 07, 2014 News

Forty-eight school-aged children belonging to the ‘E’ Field Sophia area were found out of school when officials visited the area yesterday as part of a campaign to reduce absenteeism.
According to a press statement issued by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry’s Schools’ Welfare Department in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Human Services and Social Security and the Guyana Police Force visited ‘E’ Field, South Sophia to investigate the absence of school-aged children from school.

A Welfare Officer escorts a child to his home.

The Ministry said that within a few hours of walking through the ‘E’ Field Sophia area, the joint teams found 48 children absent from school. It was observed that more males were absent. In addition, there appeared to be a significant number of secondary school-aged children either at home or playing with friends at the time officers visited the area.
It was noted that officials who visited the homes of some of the children, informed parents and guardians of their responsibilities to ensure their children receive formal education.
The Ministry said that this is the first of many campaigns slated for 2014, as it intends to intensify efforts to reduce non-attendance. The Ministry will continue to collaborate with all the relevant stakeholders and would continue to have monthly truancy campaigns.
Persons who wish to report occurrences where children are not attending school regularly can do so by calling the Ministry’s hotline numbers: 223-7891, 623-0550 or 623-4010. The Schools Welfare Department could be contacted on telephone number 226-7062.