Absence bill gets important changes.

Absence bill gets important changes.

The goal of the bill is to reduce absenteeism. This would solve the problem of children staying at home. Our criticism was that this bill does not help this large group of children and young people. We were also very concerned about the registration of pupils' absence in national categories and the sharing of this with the truancy officer and the Partnership Tailored Education.

concerns removed

In recent weeks, we have reached an agreement with the Ministry of OCW and other organizations to adjust the bill. Our biggest concerns have been removed and some other points have been adjusted. Agreements have been made on some issues for the coming period.  

What is changed in the new bill?

• The law states that schools must have an absenteeism policy. The absenteeism policy is included in the school guide with the Agreement of the school participation council. 
• Central registration of absence of all pupils in fixed categories is no longer applicable. However, each school keeps track of authorized, unauthorized and luxury absenteeism in numbers.  
• Sharing authorized absenteeism with truancy officers and the Partnership Tailored Education is also removed. These figures will be available per school but not traceable to a pupil. The Partnership Tailored Education will see the number of exemptions and absolute absenteeism.  
• Truancy officers will continue to receive data about unauthorized and luxury absenteeism of pupils, as they do now. Schools can signal to the truancy officer if absenteeism is worrying.    
• For exemption from compulsory education (5 under a) the Partnership Tailored Education will no longer issue an educational perspective plan. The assessing doctor will include this in their assessment.  
• A process will start for the changing role of the truancy officer.