News | Sunday, 13 September 2009

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School truancy lowest in Gozo and rural north

James Debono
Schools in Gozitan villages and rural Maltese localities registered the lowest rates of unauthorised absenteeism in primary government schools, a MaltaToday analysis of statistics presented in parliament shows.
The primary schools in the harbour area on the other hand registered the highest rates of absenteeism in 2008.
The Valletta primary school had the highest rate of unauthorised absenteeism. Of the total 21,025 school days (number of school days multiplied by total student population of 145), 12% or 2,486 days were lost to absenteeism that was not medically justified or otherwise excused by school authorities.
Two other inner harbour towns, Bormla and Isla, are among the top five schools with the highest rates of absenteeism. St Paul’s Bay and Sliema also registered similar rates of absenteeism.
Only 96 students attend the Sliema primary school, an indication that many children from this locality attend church and private independent schools
The statistics show that unauthorised absenteeism is six times higher in State schools than in church and private schools. Absenteeism justified by a medical certificate is also double that in church and private schools.
Primary schools in Mgarr and Kercem had the lowest rates of truancy. The six schools with the lowest rates of unauthorised absenteeism were located in Gozo or northern Malta.
Gozitan localities also fared better than Maltese schools in the Junior Lyceum entrance examinations, the so called 11+ exam. Over 74% of sixth-grade Gozitan pupils in state schools passed the exam, while Malta’s overall pass-rate was 67.1%.
Gozitan classes also tend to be smaller with an average of 14 students in each class.
Among secondary schools, the highest rate of absenteeism was registered in a Floriana school where students undergo specialised literacy and numeracy programmes and trade skills.
Junior Lyceums in Sliema, Santa Venera, Tal-Handaq and Gozo registered the lowest rates of absenteeism.

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