Victorian state school students missed out on average three weeks’ of school last year

Students throughout grades one to 10 last year missed out on average more than three weeks’ of school, while some ended up taking more days off than before the pandemic.

Student attendance figures for those who were in grades one to 10 last year dropped to 88.6 per cent.

Victorian students are taking more days off school than before the pandemic, with last year’s cohort recording the second lowest attendance rate the state has seen in a decade.

Student attendance figures for those who were in grades one to 10 last year dropped to 88.6 per cent, according to Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) data released on Wednesday.

The lowest attendance rate for these year levels was recorded in 2022 at 87.7 per cent, while the state’s highest attendance rate in the past decade was recorded in 2015 at 93.4 per cent.

In the five years before the pandemic, students were present on average 176 days of the school year, with this figure last year dipping to 168 days.

High school students took the most days off last year compared to their primary counterparts, with Year 10 students missing out on school the most.

Attendance rates were lowest at government schools, with students in grades one to 10 showing up for school on average 166 days of the year.

This figure was higher for Catholic and independent schools, with students attending on average between 171 and 174 days of the school year.

Victorian Principals Association president Andrew Dalgleish said the repercussions of chronic absenteeism were two-fold.

“The challenge we see if children are absent is two-fold: one being academic because children miss out on the sequential nature of learning programs, and the other side is social interactions,” he said.

“If they’ve been away, they miss out on conversations and playing together and have to play catch up with the lives of their friends.”

Mr Dalgleish said if families are aware their children have anxiety or are becoming regular non-attendees, they should reach out to their school for support.

“When rates of absenteeism increase, then we have chronic school refusers and that’s where things become incredibly challenging from a school and family perspective,” he said.

“It’s a partnership between families and schools that makes the difference.”

Attendance rates were lowest at government schools.

Meanwhile Australian Education Union Victorian Branch president Justin Mullaly said the state’s public schools needed extra resources to help students struggling with school attendance to thrive.

“Every child and young person, no matter their learning and wellbeing needs, deserves to be properly supported, and it is the government’s obligation to fully fund public schools to deliver this,” he said.

The portion of young Victorians aged 15 to 19 participating in full-time education or work post-school was also at its lowest rate in ten years.

Just 88 per cent of those in this age group went on to pursue full-time study or employment last year, while just 27 per cent of students in this cohort had completed Year 12 or equivalent – the lowest rate since 2009.

Opposition spokeswoman for education Jess Wilson said it was “deeply concerning” to see Victorian students were attending school for a week and a half less than they did a few years ago.

“Declining educational outcomes will never improve while attendance continues to deteriorate,” she said.

“The Allan Labor Government must urgently address this trend and act to get students engaged with their education, the curriculum and school communities.”

A Department of Education spokeswoman said Victoria’s schools continued to have the highest student attendance rate in the country.

“Schools continue to closely monitor and follow up absences, and work with families and carers to support the engagement of all students — ensuring no student is left behind,” she said.