Concerns raised about rise in student absenteeism and dropouts
Opposition Leader Marlon Penn has raised concerns about an increase in student dropouts if schools are to continue using remote or hybrid models of learning.
All local schools were allowed to open for face-to-face classes for this school year that began yesterday. But Education Minister, Dr Wheatley said there are existing “capabilities to switch to online, hybrid or blended learning as the need may arise.”
In a document containing his party’s suggestions for managing the reopening of schools in the COVID-19 era, Opposition Leader Marlon Penn noted the rising rates of absenteeism and dropout rates during this pandemic.
“Too many of our students are not attending classes regularly or at all. This is particularly true in areas where parents are unable to monitor their children, especially our young men,” the document stated.
The document said the matter of attendance and absenteeism must be addressed and further cited the territory’s Education Act; section 40 of which outlines the minister’s role in designating School Attendance Officers (Truancy Officers) “for the enforcement of compulsory school attendance in respect of all children of compulsory school age within the district or area to which he is assigned”.
The stats
In a recent sitting of the House of Assembly last month, Dr Wheatley said “the total number of dropouts for all secondary public schools [last year] is 13”.
Giving a breakdown, he further said one dropout came from Grade 7, three were in Grade 8, another three were from Grade 9, two were dropouts from Grade 10, while three and one came out of grades 11 and 12, respectively.
He said the Bregado Flax Educational Centre Secondary Division on Virgin Gorda produced seven student dropouts. Those represented the majority.
Elmore Stoutt High School (ESHS) on Tortola followed with four student dropouts while the Virgin Islands School of Technical Studies had two.
Absenteeism stats
As for absenteeism, the minister said the overall rate for last year was seven percent across all local public high schools.
There was a combined total of approximately 2,221,408 attendances and 165,124 absents recorded across the territory’s four public high schools last year.
“In summary, for Grade 7 there is an overall seven percent absent rate; Grade 8, eight percent average rate; Grade 9, eight percent absent rate; Grade 10, six percent absent rate; Grade 11, eight percent absent rate; Grade 12, seven percent for the period of April 2020 to May 2021,” Dr Wheatley told the House.
The minister further said at the time that, in a lot of the cases, the students in question were experiencing challenges such as poor internet, as well as other difficulties that would interrupt their ability to attend classes online.
The absentee and dropout rates are expected to fall with this year’s the resumption of face-to-face classes.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
If they got Lime they may never have signed up.
Some of those students are down right LAZY and don’t want to do any school work. And they sit and home all day using the device to surf the internet and do a lot of slackness. AND to make it worse some of the parents themselves are SLACK because they allow the children to sit at home and do as they please.
This man does not know the truth if it hits him.
All this man doing is on the street is telling l**s.
Marlon was in government for the last 8 consecutive years and never once asked about this and now come here pretending that he is a saviour.
When Marlon was in Government, was the BVI experiencing this dilemma? we need to look at things as they are. The blind can see that there is an escalating problem within the public school system. We better wake up fast and address it regardless of who pointing it out.
Elsa you could have at least google before telling lies. 2013 Myron had to expel 7 students at one time. It was 14 that were placed on behavioral control but 7 still refused to comply at had to go as they were menacing the principal, students and teachers daily. The teachers were fed up and upset by the ministry ignoring what was going on. Just because some people choose to forget for political reasons not everybody is a sheep or have a bad memory.
You just defined an opportunist, nice! DWL
We don’t see Marlon at all. He does not care about his District.
Have anyone tried to contact the parents or students to find out what the problems are and see if they can help find a solution to the issues?
I would assume that after attendance is taken, the Homeroom teacher would reach out to the School’s administrative Office to inquire as to why these Students are absent. Taking the Time to look into the wellbeing of a Student is the Administration(Education Dept included) responsibility during School Period.
All is good! They’ll be future premieres.