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Melina Bath calls on the Allan Labor government to urgently address rising school absenteeism

Under the Allan Labor government, Year 7 absenteeism in eastern Victoria surged, with students missing about a month annually. Concerns peak over a 29.2-day average absence from 2022-23, impacting education continuity.

By news@gippsland - 15th July 2024 - Back to News

School absenteeism has significantly increased under the Allan Labor government, with Year 7 students in eastern Victoria missing nearly a month of school each year. An analysis spanning from 2019 to 2023 reveals a troubling rise in average absence days for Year 7 students across eastern Victoria.

Melina Bath stressed the need to understand why students disengage, citing teacher shortages, stressed principals, and student anxiety affecting learning outcomes

Absenteeism crisis worsening

The Victorian Department of Education and Training (DET) data also shows Victorian Year 7 to 10 students lost an average of 29.2 school days across 2022-23, whilst students in Year 11 and 12 lost an average of 23.4 school days over the same period. The Nationals' Melina Bath, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Education said skyrocketing school absenteeism cannot be swept under the carpet by the Allan Labor government.

"There is an urgent need to address the rise in absenteeism as students are missing out on vital classroom education. These Year 7 students lost up to 150 days of face-to-face learning during the pandemic which has significantly impacted their educational continuity," Ms Bath said.

Increasing absenteeism rates

School attendance data reveals absenteeism for Year 7 students in:

• East Gippsland increased by 18.37%, resulting in an average of 31.03 absent days per student
• Wellington increased by 39.27%, resulting in an average of 27.36 days absent per student
• Latrobe increased by 37.61%, resulting in an average of 32.18 days absent per student
• Baw Baw increased by 45.16 percent, resulting in an average of 28.47 absent days per student
• South Gippsland increased by 50.61 percent, resulting in an average of 28.98 days absent per student
• Bass Coast increased by 19.63 percent, resulting in an average of 29.18 days absent per student

In 2023, Ms Bath established an upper house Inquiry into Victoria's state education system, with a report due to be tabled this October. Conducting hearings in regional Victoria and Melbourne, the Inquiry has been gathering evidence about declining student wellbeing and school refusal.

Teacher shortage crisis

Ms Bath said understanding why students are disengaging with the school environment is paramount. "Regional schools are facing a chronic teacher shortage; principals are under pressure and too many students are feeling heightened anxiety in the school setting."

"As a former secondary school teacher, I know that less time in the classroom will only reduce a student's ability to learn the essential skills and knowledge needed to enter the workforce and pursue future educational and career pathways. Labor can't manage our education system and Victoria students are paying the price," she concluded.

Pictures from Melina Bath MP Instagram page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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