Earl Moxam, Senior Gleaner Writer

HOLNESS

Attendance in most of Jamaica's schools has fallen below the standards set by the Ministry of Education, with primary schools recording 82.2 per cent attendance in 2005/2006.

This is almost eight points below the 90 per cent established by the ministry to achieve the standard of competence expected of children at that stage of their development.

Truancy law

As a consequence, Education Minister Andrew Holness told Parliament yesterday that the Government intended to proceed with its plans to pass a new truancy law, as part of a compulsory education policy.

"In that compulsory policy, will be a policy on compulsory enrolment, between zero and 18 years old, compulsory attendance and compulsory completion," he said.

The minister, responding to questions previously tabled by Ronnie Thwaites, MP for Central Kingston, disclosed that in 2004/05 the attendance level in 693 primary schools was 81.6 per cent, just below the 81.7 per cent recorded in 2003/04.

The attendance levels in all-age and primary and junior high institutions are even lower, averaging 75 per cent and 76 per cent, respectively, in 2005/2006.

Less-than-satisfactory attendance levels were also recorded in basic, junior high and high schools.