Dodging school linked to crime Truants end up in strife

ENSURING Townsville children are attending school is crucial to reduce the incidence of juvenile crime.

That’s what the Townsvillebased co- ordinator of the Stronger Communities Action Group Glenn Doyle believes.

Inspector Doyle said there was a strong correlation between children who did not go to school regularly and youth crime.

His comments came as the latest Department of Education figures reveal there were nearly 45,700 unauthorised and unexplained student absences in the 2017 school year in Townsville local government schools, which is a considerable drop from previous years.

The previous year, in 2016, there were about 63,000 unauthorised and unexplained student absences in the Townsville local government schools. In 2015 there were about 60,000 unauthorised and unexplained student absences in the region.

“I’m not surprised at the drop in student absences as there has been a lot of great programs from the Department of Education and other organisations introduced, working with students in many of our high schools to address the issue of school attendance,” Insp Doyle said.

“It’s about engaging with students, and their families, to get them re- engaged with school.”

Insp Doyle said it was important to respond in a timely manner to unauthorised and unexplained absences from school.

“From a police perspective, we’re very supportive of working with the department to make sure we have the opportunity to identify those who aren’t in school,” he said. “A quick response is important to ensure children engage sooner rather than later in school. The longer a student misses school for unexplained reasons the more likely a problem will arise from that.”

A Department of Education spokesman said state schools followed the department’s Roll Marking in State School’s procedure to record student attendance and absences.

“Parents have a legal obligation to ensure their child is enrolled and attends school on every school day for the educational program in which the child is enrolled, unless the parent has a reasonable excuse for not doing so,” the Education Department spokesman said.

“While attendance is ultimately a parent’s responsibility, improving student attendance is multifaceted and requires students, parents, schools, local communities and government services to work together.”