The Ministry of Education and Technical and Vocational Training introduced the Education Attendance Hotline in January of this year.  Since that time students attendance at public schools has improved.

Director of Education, Domonique McCartney-Russell said, “over 100 persons from the community call in concerning students who were not in school during school hours. And as a result of that our attendance officers, our monitors, have been able to go and find those children, and of course speak with their parents and also speak with our partners because we partner with Social Services, Urban Renewal.”

McCartney-Russell also pointed out that there is assistance available to parents struggling to keep their children in school.  “Sometimes students have lack in terms of the basic needs so they are not in school.  And so as a result of us finding those children we’re able to support those parents.  We kind of create a one stop shop for parents so they understand that there’s no reason for children to be at home, during school hours they should be in school.  And so we’re going to support you to ensure that students come to school,” she said.