The number of children who regularly miss classes after Corona increases by 12 percent to 1.6 MILLION

The number of schoolchildren who regularly miss classes has more than doubled since the pandemic – amid fears that Covid has “normalized” truancy.

Children’s Ombudsman Rachel de Souza has issued a strong warning of a “crisis of attendance” as the number of “persistently absent” children in England has risen to 1.6 million.

The Department of Education’s “persistence absenteeism rate” measures the number of children who miss at least 10 percent of school. The latest figures show that in the 2022/23 school year, 22 per cent of students were “persistently absent” – up from 10.9 per cent before the Covid pandemic.

Ms de Souza said the numbers represent “the biggest problem we face” and shared fears that the pandemic, along with teacher strikes, has “normalized” truancy. The Children’s Ombudsman also announced that one million children are absent from school for reasons other than illness.

Seamus Murphy, chief executive of Turner Schools, blamed the lockdown for “disrupting good habits” and criticized parents who “tend to let their kids stay home on Fridays”.

Most missing students were in secondary schools, where more than a quarter were permanently absent in the 2022-23 school year.

Overall, 27.1 percent of secondary school students missed at least 10 percent of classes, compared to 17.5 percent in elementary schools.

Speaking on the BBC’s Today programme, Ms de Souza said: ‘We have to recognize how big this problem is.’ I think we have an attendance crisis. I think we need to be much more systematic. Attendance must be everyone’s business.

“If I were the Secretary of Education, the first thing I would do on Monday morning is look at attendance numbers, interview all my officials and make sure all professionals know about it.” It’s the biggest problem we face and it’s normalizing.

“It takes time, it takes money but it has to be a national priority.” “The kids have done so much for us during lockdown – they’ve given up their social life and time, we have to help get them back.”

When asked if teachers’ strikes had exacerbated the problem, she added: “Definitely.” For the first time during lockdown, children suddenly realized schools could close and the strikes are compounding it.

“The value of their (student’s) education just isn’t what it should be.” I want the adults around the table to clarify that, because getting our children back to school must be a national priority.”

Mr Murphy also said on the show that absenteeism has become a “significant problem”, particularly in secondary schools.

The chief executive of Turner Schools, an academy foundation that runs five schools in Kent, added: “I think there are a number of things.” I think Covid has messed up good habits – one of my attendance officers told me, that Friday seems to be the new weekend – parents seem inclined to let their children stay home on a Friday, which we have challenged.

“I think there is a cost of living crisis, there are challenges related to very congested services and in particular students who are receiving free school meals are attending less than we would like.” The weakening of the partnership as a result of Covid is certainly a essential factor.

“This stubborn cohort of around 20 percent of persistent absentee children generally lives in families where life is chaotic.” There can be housing issues, more general issues with feeding — that level of chaos means it’s for it is very difficult for these families to get children into school.”

Testifying before the Commons Education Select Committee in March this year, Ms de Souza told MPs that a spike in school absences on Fridays could be due to parents working from home.

The children’s officer said: “We are seeing a large number of absences on Fridays that did not exist before.” On Fridays, the parents are at home. We received statements from children: “Well, Mom and Dad are at home, stay at home.”

A government spokesman said: “Attendance rates have improved since the pandemic and the vast majority of children are now in school and learning.” But our focus remains on making sure no child falls through the cracks.

“We are working with schools, foundations, governing bodies and local authorities to identify students who are at risk of being permanently absent – or who are permanently absent – to help guide these children in returning to a regular and consistent education support.”