A new online data dashboard launched this week by Associate Education Minister David Seymour aims to provide more timely information about school attendance to the public and parents.

The interactive dashboard, which will be updated weekly, offers insights into the national average of daily school attendance.

According to Mr Seymour, the dashboard's purpose is to address the nationwide attendance problem, which saw over 330,000 students missing school regularly in the last term of 2023.

He stresses the importance of accurate and up-to-date data to tackle this issue effectively.

"Having high-quality attendance data available will empower students, parents, and school communities to identify and address absence," Mr Seymour explains. "It will also enable us to measure positive changes over time."

The Government has set an ambitious target of ensuring that 80 per cent of students attend school for more than 90 per cent of the term by 2030.

To achieve this goal, Mr Seymour urges schools to aim for a daily attendance rate above 94 per cent.

While acknowledging that parents have the final say in their child's attendance, Mr Seymour encourages them to consider the impact of absenteeism on their child's education.

He points out that attendance tends to decline on Fridays, highlighting the importance of monitoring attendance patterns.

In a move to enhance data collection, Cabinet has approved mandatory daily reporting of attendance by schools to the Ministry of Education starting from Term 1, 2025.

This data will be published on the website daily, providing real-time insights into attendance trends.

Mr Seymour emphasises that understanding the root causes of non-attendance through data analysis is crucial for implementing targeted interventions.

He urges collective support for schools in maintaining a strong focus on teaching and improving attendance rates.

Highlighting the long-term consequences of truancy, Mr Seymour warns of an "80-year long shadow" if the issue is not addressed promptly.

He stresses that addressing truancy is essential for ensuring equal opportunities for all students and preventing social and economic challenges in the future.

The new attendance dashboard will be accessible to the public via the following link: https://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/statistics/daily-attendance