Schools won't be able to hold teacher-only days during term time and parents of students absent for 15 days could be prosecuted, Associate Education Minister David Seymour has announced in a new truancy crackdown.

Schools must have a stepped attendance response (STAR) plan in place by the beginning of the 2026 school year.

Seymour set out an example:

Five days absent: School contacts parents/guardians to determine a reason and set expectations

10 days absent: School leaders meet with parents/guardians and student to develop a plan to address barriers to attendance and "the obligation goes onto services such as attendance, Oranga Tamariki and the local police"

15 days absent: Ministry takes over the response, including possible prosecution of parents

Each school would also be asked to share attendance information with Oranga Tamariki, police, and MSD, he said.

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[–] eagleeyedtiger 14 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Hate is probably too strong a word, but man do I intensely dislike David Seymour.

Him and his ilk were probably calling the Labour government a nanny state - they seem to really love regulation now though

[–] Viper_NZ 11 points 2 months ago (1 children)

The hypocrisy is astounding.

He's on a mission to reduce bureaucracy and waste, so this government make jobseekers reapply for the benefit every 6 months.

Government shouldn't tell parents how to raise their kids, so they prevent parents from making decisions around whether their kid needs a mobile.

[–] deadbeef79000 7 points 2 months ago

That's because it's "little government for the rich" and "big government for the poors".

Substitute any "in group" and "out group" respectively.