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8 TOTAL absences for students at- tending primary and secondary schools during academic year 2013/2014 amounted to 597,239 days, equivalent to an average of 13.0 absent days per student. In total, the number of absenc- es recorded during academic year 2013/2014 decreased by 15.9 per cent when compared with the previous year. Total author- ised absences decreased by 24.6 per cent and made up 54.9 per cent of total absences. Total un- authorised absences also showed a decrease of 2.2 per cent. The average number of ab- sences during the period under review stood at 13.0 days per stu- dent, decreasing by 2.4 per cent when compared with levels for the previous academic year. On average students recorded 7.2 days of authorised and 5.9 days of unauthorised absence in one scholastic year. In absolute terms, male stu- dents recorded higher levels of absenteeism when compared to their female counterparts: most of these were classified as au- thorised. The average level of ab- sence among males was found to be higher or equal to that of fe- males for all levels of education. Student absenteeism in state schools decreased by 22.4 per cent during 2013/2014. Most of these absences were unauthor- ised. Unauthorised absences in state schools decreased by 4.9 per cent. In contrast church and independent schools saw a drop in authorised absences and an in- crease in unauthorised absences. Students of all ages recorded lower levels of absence during the scholastic year 2013/2014. The lowest absence levels were recorded among nine year olds at 8.1 days. On the other hand 16 year olds held the highest aver- age levels of absenteeism. Students attending state schools located in Gozo and Comino registered the sharpest drop in their absence levels (49.9 per cent). On average, students attending state schools located in the South Harbour district ac- cumulated the highest average number of absences (20.1 days per student), while Gozitan stu- dents recorded the lowest aver- age number of absences with 9.8 days per student. The Ministry for Education said that more measures adopted by the government will continue to help in the decrease of absen- teeism. Since 2009, the number of pub- lic employees in student support services has increased and the engagement of this additional staff has allowed for a more fo- cused approach to students. Malta, it said, was one of a small number of countries in Europe which has increased its educa- tional budget and its headcount in the past years. This increase in staff also al- lowed for colleges to have their own inter-disciplinary teams which allow tackling the differ- ent social realities within the community. A wider educational system Since 2013, the ministry in- troduced a number of policies which allows for more possible pathways for students to uptake. Vocational education has played an important role in this, with the Alternative Learning Pro- gramme and the introduction of vocational subjects at secondary level being among the main re- forms. Tackling unauthorised school absences During the 2013 summer months, a number of social workers conducted office visits and most of the parents of pri- mary school children were ab- sent from school for more than 20 unauthorised days during scholastic year 2012-2013. These parents/guardians were notified through a letter of an office visit scheduled with the social worker held at the respective schools or office. Close monitoring of these students was maintained throughout the following scho- lastic years. This is just one step along the way The decrease in absenteeism rates is a positive step however reforms in the educational sec- tor are by no means ending here. Providing a meaningful and ac- credited educational path is just as important as having students attend school. As absenteeism rates continue to decrease the shift in focus will be in provid- ing an education that is in touch with today's younger people and offers them an engaging way to reach their potential. maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 10 FEBRUARY 2016 News IN ALL LEADING BOOK SHOPS HISTORY OF ORNITHOLOGY IN MALTA Absenteeism down 16% in 2014 scholastic year Automatic increase in disability pensions for individuals aged 60 DISABILITY pensions will in- crease by €5.16 per week for per- sons reaching 60 years of age, family minister Michael Farrugia said. While visiting the Kawax Ltd factory in Marsa, Farrugia said the increase in the disability pension would be equivalent to the non- contributory age pension. The increase in the rate will be automatic. The minister explained that the automatic update of the pension means that individuals will no longer need to apply for the age pension when they turn 60. 240 persons are expected to ben- efit from this measure announced in Budget 2016. Beneficiaries have been contacted by the depart- ment.