For vacation over education

I was suitably outraged because I’m a good parent, and to be able to take my children on a holiday like that is a privilege.’ KAREENA GREEN

anywhere between 26.9 and 71.8 per cent.

For a family of four going to London that’s $1926 – the equivalent of another adult’s return airfare. And even a short hop between Wellington and Sydney saw a $1176 jump in prices by selecting flights within the school holidays.

The Ministry of Education has confirmed that they have never fined or prosecuted any parents for taking their children on holidays during the school term although it ‘‘isn’t something we support, because it can affect how well they learn and progress’’.

‘‘Prosecution through the courts for chronic or long-term truancy is always a last resort. It is more important to get a student back to school. Prosecution does not take place for occasional absences, such as a holiday,’’ spokesperson Katrina Casey said.

But some schools are taking a stand with Hamilton mother-oftwo Karina Green furious her 9-year-old child’s holiday was deemed ‘‘unjustified’’.

Green took advantage of the considerably cheaper airfares during the school term to take her family on a nine-day excursion to Hawaii at the end of last month.

‘‘I was suitably outraged because I’m a good parent, and to be able to take my children on a holiday like that is a privilege.’’

Green agreed continued absences should not be accepted, but said a one-off holiday, especially one with educational content, shouldn’t be discouraged.

‘‘As a hard-working parent who was lucky enough to be able to afford that, to be told it was unjustified was a slap in the face,’’ said Green.

She felt parents were made to feel guilty by schools for taking their children overseas during term time, and knew of other parents who simply claimed their children were sick.

Auckland Primary Principals’ Association president Kevin Bush said they had never imposed any fines on parents.

‘‘It’s a catch-22 really. Someone needs to work while we’re on holiday and unfortunately some parents have no choice but to take their holiday during the school term, but its never good to miss school,’’ said Bush.

Figures obtained under the Official Information Act showed there had been no crack down on parents who kept their kids from school. There were just seven prosecution cases by the ministry for ‘‘chronic’’ non-attendance in 2014, and only four in 2015.

DLA Piper law firm partner John Hannan, who has experience in education law, said prosecution cases were ‘‘exceedingly rare’’ and issues were usually resolved between parents and schools.

‘‘I certainly haven’t come across it much.

‘‘I don’t think schools or the Ministry of Education are that likely to let these situations develop to the point where prosecutions are brought and fines imposed.’’

Prosecutions could also be brought if parents home-schooled their children without getting an exemption, Hannan said.