Published: Thursday, 28th January, 2010 2:06pm

Our shocking truancy figures revealed

Print | Email

THE council is to re-introduce measures to prosecute parents of kids who continually play truant, after the shocking extent of absence and latecoming was revealed.

Appalling new statistics show that NAC schools are the second worst in the country for truancy and are also one of the worst for pupils turning up late.

Now new crackdown measures will see parents who condone non-attendance at school being punished through the courts, if councillors give plans from a crack team are given the go-ahead.

New Attendance Councils, made up of volunteers, will bring the law down upon parents of kids who are chronic truants, a problem which is affecting more girls than boys in North Ayrshire.

Education director Carol Kirk said prosecution was being brought back in to help break the "cycle" of poorer kids staying away from school.

Get the Times this week for the full story.