The government’s overzealous focus on school attendance is backfiring, with sick children returning to school too early and spreading viruses to classmates and teachers.
Educators say the heavy focus on attendance has driven up rates of flu and other winter illnesses across schools.
Adrianne McAllister, Principal of Mt Cook School and NZEI Te Riu Roa member, said: “Our strong focus on attendance has, at times, created unnecessary fear around tamariki being away from school when they are genuinely unwell. This can mean children return to school too early, before they have fully recovered.
“When an unwell child returns too soon, they can spread the flu, tummy bugs, and other illnesses to other tamariki and staff. This creates more sickness and more absences, starting the cycle again.
“We absolutely want our tamariki attending school regularly, but we also want whānau to feel confident keeping their child at home until they are genuinely well. Being at school is important, but so is protecting the health and wellbeing of our wider school community.
“We need to find a better balance between encouraging attendance and ensuring our messaging doesn't unintentionally spread illness,” Mrs McAllister said.
Arakura School Principal and NZEI Te Riu Roa Principals’ Council member Tute Mila said the wave of sickness impacted up to 50 children and six teachers in her school in the past two weeks.
“With so many kaiako off sick, we were forced to merge classes and ask whānau of children in two classes if they could keep their children at home.
“This is the other side of the cost-of-living crisis. Whānau cannot afford to take time off work to look after their sick tamariki, so children come to school even when they are unwell. This is a vicious cycle of illness, compounded by cost-of-living pressures.
“Even staff who are working are struggling to get a doctor’s appointment when they need it and are discouraged by the cost.”