Improvements in Attendance Rate of Primary and Secondary Students with Absenteeism Issues and Supported by UPLIFT

Mr Leon Perera asked the Minister for Education with regard to Primary and Secondary students with school absenteeism issues and supported by UPLIFT (Uplifting Pupils in Life and Inspiring Families Taskforce), what percentage of them have seen an improvement to an attendance rate of 90% or more.

The Uplifting Pupils in Life and Inspiring Families Taskforce (UPLIFT) aims to enhance upstream wraparound support for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. UPLIFT comprises several initiatives to support these students, including strengthening after-school engagement and care through school-based Student Care Centres in Primary schools and GEAR-UP in Secondary schools, partnering the community through the UPLIFT Community Network, and UPLIFT Enhanced School Resourcing to support whole-school interventions for students with greater needs.

With these efforts, about eight in 10 students who exhibited absenteeism issues in 2020 have seen their attendance improve to 90% or better the following year. This does not include those absent for medical and other valid reasons.