IMMEDIATE RELEASE 9 October 2002
Commenting on Government plans to fasttrack prosecutions against parents whose children are persistent truants and tocarry out truancy sweeps in shopping centres across the country, Doug McAvoy,NUT General Secretary, said:
These truancy sweeps must apply equally toHarrods as well as to Woolworths. Any other approach would send a message thatonly pupils from certain areas are being targeted. No pupil should be truantingwhether they attend independent schools or state schools.
Every parent has a responsibility toensure their child attends school daily. Wealthy parents are no more immunefrom this legal obligation than those who are less well off.
Teachers will be under enormous pressureto deal with pupils who are returned reluctantly to school.
Fast tracking of prosecutions againstparents who do not ensure their children attend school may prove helpful butthe pilots must be properly evaluated.
E N D PR76/02