Education

[1] The Western Cape Education Department [WCED] has a Learner Attendance Policy [Implementation of Policy on Learner Attendance and keeping of attendance records] which addresses truancy.

The purpose of the Learner Attendance Policy is to:

[a]    promote punctual and regular attendance at public schools; and

[b]    provide public schools and the Western Cape Education Department [WCED] with standard procedures for recording, managing, and monitoring learner attendance.

The document states what the duty of the school is, should a learner be absent for three consecutive days and when it is found that the absence is without valid reasons.

If the learner is absent without valid reason for three consecutive school days, the principal must:

[a]    inform the parent of the importance of regular attendance;

[b]    emphasise the learner’s duty to attend punctually and regularly in terms of the school’s code of conduct for learners;

[c]     if the learner is of compulsory school-going age, inform the parent of the legal implications of section 3 of SASA;

[d]    inform the parent of the risk of the learner’s record in the class register being cancelled for continuous absence;

[e]     request the learner’s return to school;

[f]      where necessary, elicit the support of the district office providing evidence of the interventions made by the school; and

[g]    where necessary, elicit intervention from government or non-government social development agencies.

[2]     The WCED Safe Schools Fieldworkers are responsible for addressing truancy through home visits.

Allegations of truancy are reported to the Safe Schools office at Education Districts via the Safe Schools Call Centre of the Directorate Institutional Management and governance, or directly via schools. A flowchart is followed whereby the school, District Director, Head of Management and Governance, Circuit Manager, Safe Schools Coordinator, Safe Schools Call Centre, or District Based Support Team identifies a learner who is:

• Absent from school for more than 7 days [school needed to do own intervention after 3 days];
• Frequently absent from school;
• Is prone to habitual or chronic truancy; and/or
• At risk of playing truant or dropping out of school.

Truancy cases are then referred to the Safe Schools Fieldworker for investigation. As mentioned, most of these investigations include a home visit. Other contact with parents could be through a telephone consultation, or a meeting with the parent at the school. The aim of the investigation would always be to promote school attendance and to reintegrate the learner into the school system.

If, after the investigation, there is reason to believe that the learner is truant, further assessment will take place with the support of the parent, school psychologist, social worker or district-based support teams. If necessary, other support will be provided either through the WCED or service providers in the area, to provide counseling, debriefing, or a relevant behavioral program.

Whilst the WCED has a role to play in addressing truancy, we also ask that parents help us reduce truancy by instilling order and discipline in their homes. By encouraging every child to go to school every day, on time and prepared to learn, parents will be helping us to achieve our vision.