http://www.smh.com.au/news/national...-kids-to-school/2008/04/01/1206850880295.htmlParents could be jailed if they repeatedly fail to send their children to school, Premier Morris Iemma warned today.
Under new anti-truancy measures, the Department of Education will be able to force parents to enrol their children in school. If they disobey such orders, they could face jail as a last resort.
Mr Iemma said school absences were often the first sign of neglect at home.
"While teachers are not social workers, missing class can be a warning sign of neglect, behavioural problems, crime or safety concerns," he said.
"These laws will make sure the Government can act swiftly and effectively to deal with the small minority of parents whose children are not attending school," Mr Iemma said.
The Premier said the changes would encourage "parental responsibility".
"Parents have an obligation to ensure their children attend school," he said in a statement.
"That's why we will take action against parents who fail to either enrol their children, or ensure they attend class.
"The Government is taking action to encourage and assist and even compel parents where necessary when their children are not showing up at school.
"Magistrates will be given new options to make special orders against problem parents if their children are regularly missing from class," Mr Iemma said.
The new laws will also allow independent medical experts to assess if a child is "too sick" to be enrolled at school and not simply rely on the advice of the parents. And children who are genuinely too sick to attend school will receive instruction at home.
"Mean parents who disobey court orders over school attendance can be prosecuted, potentially receiving jail sentences as a last resort for repeatedly defying school attendance rulings," Mr Iemma said.
"It is compulsory for every child between the ages of six and 15 to attend school.
"Proper school attendance gives our kids the best opportunities in life, and helps make them valuable contributors to the wider community."
Interesting