"Student success is vital. It opens doors to life's best opportunities and allows school graduates to contribute positively to society," Shore told CathNews.

Acknowledging that the factors impacting state schools also affect Catholic schools, he remains optimistic that attendance numbers will improve. Shore's comments follow an earlier statement by the head of New South Wales Catholic schools, Dallas McInerney, who warned of the potential for school attendance not to return to its pre-pandemic norm.

"Government regulations meant our students were physically isolated from their peers and teachers.

"Too many were exposed to heightened levels of health and economic unease, through the media and in their homes," McInerney commented last week.

"There is a lasting effect on school attendance.

"We know that the workforce has not, and perhaps will not, return to pre-COVID levels of at-work attendance, and the same is true of students in NSW."

Shore acknowledges that areas worst hit by poverty and deprivation also suffer the most from truancy, and low attendance rates could result in several adverse outcomes such as a low-skilled workforce, poor social and relationship skills, and a perpetuating cycle of poverty and deprivation.

However, he added that an advantage of being a state-integrated school is that all support provided to state schools is available for Catholic schools as well.

Shore observed that historically, pre-pandemic data showed the attendance rate in Catholic schools was about 5-6% higher.

He attributes the difference to the community-shared values and beliefs that encourage strong relationships between home and school.

Catholic schools have generally been successful in creating powerful bonds with parents.

Citing a case in Northland where community support has boosted attendance rates, he said "Successful partnerships between schools, local iwi and the use of truancy officers is a recipe that works."

Minister of Education, Jan Tinetti, acknowledges the negative effect that Covid-19 has had on school attendance.

Facing criticism for a $1m advertising campaign that did not increase school attendance, Tinetti told the NZ Herald on Wednesday that improving school attendance is multi-faceted.

She said that the Ministry of Education is using a range of initiatives to encourage children back to school, and engaging with the broader community, such as parents and employers, is a necessary part of the solution.

Reinforcing the multi-faceted approach, Tinetti told NewstalkZB's Mike Hosking, "Every single initiative and effort they've made (the Ministry of Education) is making a difference."

Independently, Shore echoed Tinetti's Covid comments to CathNews, saying the pandemic has introduced many 'downstream' complications, such as students working to support families during tough times, disruptions causing students to disengage from education and fall behind in their studies, and poverty affecting access to schooling.

Shore is encouraged by Catholic schools and their pastoral support processes that focus on human dignity and which help create respectful and inclusive environments, fostering a sense of belonging.

Sources

• CathNews
• NZ Herald
• NewstalkZB
• Supplied

He wants an inquiry into the long-term consequences of shutting down schools during the pandemic.

In a speech to school leaders last week, McInerney said he had argued to keep schooling as normal as possible during the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also fought against the "easy option" of cancelling Higher School Certificate (HSC) exams, he said.

"As government regulation meant our students were physically isolated from their peers and teachers … it has been found that too many were exposed to heightened levels of health and economic unease, through the media and in their homes.

"We also have a lasting effect on school attendance … we know that the workforce has not - and perhaps will not - return to pre-COVID levels of at-work attendance, and the same is true of students in NSW."

Attendance decline

NSW most recent attendance data shows over 60 percent of its public high school students missed at least four weeks of class in 2022. That's the worst attendance level on record.

While community illness was higher than usual, indicators suggest wagging was up.

There was a rise in students missing school on Fridays, with no reason supplied.

The stats also show that in the public system last year parents failed to explain children's absence for the equivalent of 3.8 million days.

After the speech, McInerney explained why he backed an inquiry into the pandemic response.

He said the effects of pandemic-related decisions, including closing down physical schooling, are still being felt.

If another pandemic came along, he thinks there would be many benefits to a review to see "if we got it right" and "what happens next."

Inquiry

Australia's federal executive government, under Anthony Albanese's leadership, has yet to launch an inquiry into the federal and state governments' responses to the pandemic.

In a pre-election promise, Albanese's government promised to hold a "royal commission or some form of inquiry" into the country's handling of COVID-19.

NSW Premier Chris Minns has dismissed the need for a royal commission.

However, McInerney says any inquiry could examine how best to address the pandemic's effects, including increased mental health issues and school absenteeism.

The drop-off in school attendance "should be the biggest alarm bell," he says.

Higher School Certificate

In his speech, McInerney said he successfully argued for HSC exams to continue "when others considered the easy option of cancellation".

Sarah Mitchell, who was the education minister at that time, also wanted exams to proceed as normal.

Decisions to close schools to most students were made in line with health advice.

"We were also very conscious of the impacts of learning from home and how students were coping with the disruption and lack of routine."

Mitchell also prioritised enabling the HSC exams to continue.

A NSW Department of Education spokesman said COVID challenged schools across the globe.

"Teachers in NSW went above and beyond to support their students," he said.

Source

• Sydney Morning Herald