Student attendance reaches new heights nationwide.
Associate Education Minister David Seymour has announced that every term in 2024 saw higher student attendance compared to the same period last year. According to data, Term 4 of 2024 recorded a 5.1 percentage point increase, with 58.1 per cent of students attending school regularly.
Regionally, North and West Auckland, as well as South and South-West Auckland, led the charge, showing significant improvements of 6.6 per cent each. The trend is in line with the Government's goal to ensure 80 per cent of students are present for more than 90 per cent of the term by 2030.
Seymour highlighted the importance of regular attendance, stating that it lays the foundation for positive educational outcomes, which in turn contribute to better health, higher incomes, and greater community participation. The Ministry has implemented measures to support schools in investigating reasons for absence and encouraging students to return to school, with a focus on improving educational outcomes for all Kiwi children regardless of socio-economic background or location.