Attendance Information

Legal requirements for school attendance

Schools

Schools are required to:

• enrol eligible students

• take all reasonable steps to make sure students attend when the school is open

• keep an attendance record for each enrolled student

• have an absence notification process

• use an approved electronic attendance register and Ministry-approved attendance codes to record attendance.

Parents and legal guardians

Parents and legal guardians are required to:

• enrol their child at a registered school when they turn 6 years old

• make sure their child (including enrolled 5-year-olds) attends school every day the school is open until they are at least 16 years old.

Failure to do so can result to the school or Ministry of Education taking legal action, including prosecution under Sections 243 and 244 of the Education and Training Act 2020.