Newsable: Why David Seymour thinks kids wag school

Tuesday, 9 April 2024

• Newsable speaks with the minister in charge, Associate Education Minister David Seymour, about his thoughts on tackling truancy.

• Creating and launching an ‘Attendance Action Plan’ is part of the coalition government’s priorities for the next quarter.

• Listen to the interview here.****

Stuff’s daily news podcast, Newsable, understands Associate Education Minister David Seymour will today reveal his plans to tackle truancy.

Seymour has been given the responsibility for the government’s Attendance Action Plan – an issue Prime Minister Christopher Luxon put a strong emphasis on during last year’s campaign.

Click the play button above to listen to the interview or click here if you want to find out more.

Speaking on Newsable this morning, Seymour said there are a variety of reasons as to why kids aren’t attending school, including working to help the family out, personal problems and families who just don’t make an effort.

He said it’s going to take people on the ground to make effective change in understanding each child’s needs.

When asked about how much parents could get fined if their kids weren’t attending school regularly, Seymour wouldn’t reveal the exact amount.

“If you look at what they’re fining across Europe, just about every European country would have fines that would be over $100 NZD - but that doesn’t mean that we’ll go there.”

The Associate Education Minister is expected to make an announcement around his action plan plans later this morning.

Newsable is Stuff’s daily news podcast, wrapping up what’s worth talking about in a short package every weekday morning. Make sure to like and follow us wherever you get your podcasts.