Absenteeism discussed at Tusla school summit

A school attendance summit has commenced in Tusla, gathering over 300 representatives to address the rising problem of student absenteeism. According to reports from 2023 and 2024, one in every five children in Ireland is chronically absent, missing more than 20 days annually. This issue has worsened post-Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in communities facing social and educational challenges.

Tusla's Educational Support Service (TESS) has released two studies detailing factors influencing school attendance. The research, conducted with children and young people in late 2025 and parents in early 2026, highlights the severe impact of chronic absenteeism on education, health, wellbeing, and social integration in adulthood. Persistent absence at age 13 correlates with a performance gap of over 80 Leaving Certificate points, regardless of socioeconomic status.

Minister of Education, Hildegarde Naughton, emphasized the necessity of collective efforts to encourage school attendance, noting that solutions lie beyond the roles of parents, schools, and the Department of Education. She introduced home school co-ordinators to aid families in identifying and overcoming barriers to their children's school attendance. Additionally, a pilot program involving home school liaison coordinators will be expanded beyond DEIS schools.

Tusla incorporated young voices by involving students from Ballymakenny College in Drogheda, who designed questions for the report. Michelle Iloduba, a student participant, shared her personal experiences of avoiding school due to lack of motivation, stressing the importance of school for physical, social, and mental wellbeing. She also attributed social media's negative portrayal of school to the rise in absenteeism.

Her colleague, Sebastian Moldovan, echoed concerns about the stigma surrounding school attendance, with both highlighting the need to combat negative influences online. Minister Naughton stressed the importance of integrating young perspectives in policy-making to ensure effective solutions.