ASH Wednesday has seen yet another high absenteeism rate in primary and secondary schools in Trinidad and Tobago.
The Ministry of Education said that only 18 percent of secondary school students turned up to school on Ash Wednesday. The rate was only a bit higher for primary school students with 29 percent of those present.
The ministry noted that secondary school teachers’ attendance was much higher with an average attendance of 75.62 percent.
Primary school teachers’ attendance was 79.75 percent throughout the country.
The Minister of Education Anthony Garcia was frustrated with the attendance by students.
He said, “What we try to teach our students is discipline. We live in a society where discipline seems to be falling down and down and down, and we consider it our responsibility to do everything possible to ensure that we are able to lift the standard of discipline in this country.”
Garcia added, “We want to start with the schools and we need the active assistance of the parents where this is concerned.”
He said, “Parents must ensure that students understand that there is a balance between work and play.
Garcia said, “Every other sector of Trinidad and Tobago returns to work as normal on Ash Wednesday. There is no reason for the closure of schools.”
