Many children missing out on at least one week in six

That is the startling disclosure made by North Antrim UU MLA Robert Coulter.

The local Assemblyman named the wards of Dunclug, Ballee and Ballykeel as parts of Ballymena where up to a quarter of year 12 students and above are attending school 15% of the time.

Mr Coulter put the blame firmly at the door of the Education Minister, stating that local children are being let down by her failure to tackle school absenteeism head-on.

He said: “Huge numbers of post-primary pupils are failing to attend school on a regular basis – in blunt terms, many are missing out on at least one week in six.

“That is a huge disadvantage, and one that will impact on the rest of their lives,” the North Antrim MLA said.

“In some parts of Ballymena - such as Dunclug, Ballee and Ballykeel - 20 to 25 per cent of students in year 12 and above are attending school less than 85 per cent of the time.

“Particularly for those areas that are trapped in a cycle of under-achievement and deprivation, non-attendance at school serves only to perpetuate that trend”.

Mr Coulter continued: “Even at primary school level, the children of Ballee, Dunclug and Castle Demesne demonstrate significantly poorer attendance levels than pupils in other parts of Ballymena.

“At this stage, where attendance might be expected to be at its highest, a staggering 10 to 12 per cent of pupils are absent at least 15 per cent of the time.

“These are deeply troubling statistics, and unfortunately foreshadow a lifetime of difficulty for those affected.

“The fact is that if the habits of regular attendance are not achieved at school, this is likely to translate down the line to work commitment and ability to hold on to a job”.

Mr Coulter said that on a province-wide basis, the statistics showing high levels of absenteeism show a very close relationship between areas of need.

“Indeed there are acknowledged links between persistent truancy and a child's life chances,” he said.

“There is no doubt that absenteeism is detrimental to students’ achievement, self-esteem, and employment potential.

Given that our teenagers of today will be parents of tomorrow, if we want to increase the chance of employment and to minimize levels of child poverty in the future, then we must address the issues causing absenteeism.

“It is all too clear that there is an ethos of non-attendance that must be addressed as a matter of urgency if we are to improve the prospects of these communities,” said Mr Coulter.