Thousands of Irish children are absent from school every day, it has been revealed.

Figures compiled by the National Educational Welfare Board show that an average of 31,500 primary pupils and 26,000 post-primary students were missing daily between 2007 and 2008, the Irish Times reports.

Around 17 per cent of secondary school age children are absent for 20 days or more each year.

Fine Gael education spokesman Brian Hayes described the figures as "disturbing".
"The true depth of the school absentee problem cannot be known as the figures that are being relied upon are two years old," he told the publication.

Mr Hayes added that the current education minister cannot get to grips with the problem until she knows the real extent of it.

Speaking recently, Ferdinand von Prondzynski, president of Dublin City University, said the country's education system is "not fit for purpose".

Writing for the Irish Times, he said that the Junior and Leaving Certificate curriculum have failed to keep pace with the times.

Written by Donal Walsh

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