The Minister for Education and Youth, Helen McEntee, in partnership with the Tusla Education Support Service (TESS), has launched a nationwide multimedia campaign aimed at promoting regular school attendance across Ireland. The campaign follows the publication of the TESS Annual Attendance Report and Student Absence Report for the 2023/2024 school year, which highlights that more than one in five children and young people at primary and post-primary levels miss over 20 days of school annually. While the reports indicate a reduction in total days lost and chronic absenteeism for the second consecutive year, absenteeism remains a significant concern.
Data from the reports show that primary schools recorded a decrease in total days lost, dropping from 8,689,829 in 2021/22 to 6,247,325 in 2023/24, representing 8% of the total school days. At post-primary level, total days lost rose slightly to 6,029,243, largely due to an increase in student numbers, accounting for 11.3% of school days. Chronic absenteeism has also shifted, with 94,501 primary students (22.1%) and 67,612 post-primary students (21.2%) missing more than 20 days in the 2023/24 school year. These figures remain higher than pre-pandemic levels, highlighting the ongoing need for intervention.
The campaign emphasizes that regular school attendance is critical for learning, social development, and long-term life outcomes. It seeks to engage parents, guardians, teachers, and communities in supporting children to attend school consistently. Minister McEntee highlighted that missing school not only affects academic achievement but also social interaction and personal growth, urging the public to prioritize attendance. The campaign includes the rollout of the Anseo Framework, a school-based model providing tools for principals, teachers, and families to tackle absenteeism, initially reaching 60 schools with plans for broader implementation by 2028.
Minister of State Michael Moynihan underscored the role of everyone in a student’s life in promoting school attendance, emphasizing that each school day represents an opportunity for learning and growth. TESS Director Áine O’Keeffe stressed that increasing attendance is a central function of the service, noting that the campaign provides awareness, resources, and support to improve daily attendance. The campaign aims to ensure that all students have the best possible chance to achieve their full potential while reinforcing the importance of consistent attendance for wellbeing and academic success.
