73% average state school attendance rate in 2020, 17% less than 2019 and 2018

The average (physical) attendance rate in state schools and colleges has dropped by around 17% this year, when compared to attendance statistics of 2019 and 2018.

This information was tabled in parliament by newly appointed Education Minister Justyne Caruana who was responding to parliamentary questions by PN MP Clyde Puli.

Last week, Puli had asked then Education Minister Owen Bonnici to provide information about the number of absentees that state schools and colleges experienced during the pandemic, following reports that one in four children in Malta and Gozo are not going to school during this period.

The tabled statistics showed that, up until 16 November of this year, the average of school attendance was 72.98% across all state school and colleges, meaning that 27.02% were absent. Bonnici had also indicated which of these absentees were related to medical reasons, excused or had no explanation at all. The majority 15.34% were excused absences while 8.67% gave no explanation. Only 0.33% were absent for medical reasons.

On Monday, Puli asked Caruana to provide the same statistics for 2019 and 2018. The statistics tabled by Caruana in this regard covered the attendance rates until 18 November of those years.

In 2019, the attendance rate was of 90.54% with 9.46% absentees. Out of these absentees 2.29% were medically related, 2.45% related to medical reasons and 5.31% had no explanation.

In 2018, the attendance rate stood at 89.67% (10.33% absentees). From the remaining 10.33% which are absentees, 2.65% related to medical reasons, 2.14% were excused and 4.80% gave no explanation.

When comparing these statistics with this year’s, one can see that, while the attendance rate between 2019 and 2018 is almost the same, there is almost a 17% increase this year.

One must note, however, that there was an exponential rise in excused absences this year, the majority of which most probably relate to vulnerable students who have been encouraged to not attend school physically for their own safety.

Yet, there was also a rise, though not as prominent, in absences that had no explanation this year.

School attendance has been a topic of concern among teachers, parents and high-ranking individuals during this year as rates plummeted at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic when schools were asked to close and carry out lessons online early this year.