Sick, bullied and on holiday: 'truant' takes 126 days off

Her parents say it was sickness, bullying - and a family holiday in the South Island. Her school says it was negligent absenteeism. But the Auckland family being prosecuted for their 8-year-old's truancy believes they have been unfairly targeted in a Ministry of Education crackdown on parents pulling their kids out of school.

"It's completely unjust ... it's not like she was out wandering the streets or anything," said Victor Floka. He and his wife Valentina are facing a conviction and a $150 fine for daughter Christina's truancy after she missed 126 school days in the past two years.

The Flokas said Christina was absent only because of illness and an incident of bullying at Howick Primary School. But the family did admit they removed Christina for a two-week family holiday in the South Island, angering the school, which reported the Flokas to the Ministry.

Over the past 18 months, 17 families have been prosecuted under a new programme aimed at preventing school truancy. For a trial in South Auckland and the Hutt Valley, the Ministry has funded prosecutions under the Education Act against parents whose children are truant from school. Technically, there is no difference between children playing hooky on the streets and those on a holiday with their parents.

"No one's going to suffer if they miss out on going to Movieland on the Sunshine Coast. But they will suffer if they miss out on education," said Martin Connelly, Education Ministry policy manager.

Principals spoken to by the Herald on Sunday said many parents saw nothing wrong with removing their children from school for a skiing holiday or trip overseas.

Ellerslie Primary School principal Chris Magner said every week parents told him they were "nipping off to Fiji" and wanted schoolwork for their child.

"I don't think parents realise what they are doing. There's a magic that happens in the classroom and you don't want your child to miss that. You don't get that in a worksheet they are doing in Fiji while the parents are lazing by the pool." Mr Connelly said the ministry would support schools prosecuting parents for taking their children on extended holidays, but court was a last resort.

Guidelines for dealing with truancy include the school phoning parents, then calling a meeting and sending warning letters. Penalties are light - $150 for the first offence and $400 for a second - but convictions worked, said Mr Connelly.

More than half of prosecutions have resulted in full attendance.

The lead-up to the Flokas' prosecution began in May last year with a warning letter. The school said Christina was absent from school for 126 days out of 394 from February 2004 to December last year. But the Flokas said they had the principal's consent for a holiday at the beginning of 2005 when they considered moving to the South Island. They failed to tell the principal about a second South Island holiday last May.

Mr Floka told the Herald on Sunday Christina was a sick child who suffered from a hearing condition and the family had medical certificates covering most absences.

Despite missing almost half the classes in 2004, the Flokas said they were contacted by the principal until they were spotted by a school staff member at an ice rink when Christina was supposed to be at school. Christina is now enrolled at a new school part-time and is doing correspondence courses.

Principals told the Herald on Sunday there were no strict rules for when absenteeism became problem truancy. "In the end it comes down to a case-by-case basis. You have to trust your instinct," said Auckland Primary Principals' Association president Malcolm Milner.

Ponsonby Primary principal Anne Malcolm said she didn't have a problem with mid-term holidays as long as it was not every other week.

"If it's a good education experience for them, I don't have a problem with it."

Mr Connelly said the prosecution trial may be extended and once parents realised schools were serious about it, attitudes would change. "It's important to send a message that truancy is important. How can you do that if you turn a blind eye?"