Singapore parents who fail to ensure their children's school attendance: Why this occurred, what had been done and how it was perceived

In Singapore, the Compulsory Education Act requires citizens of compulsory schooling age (between 7 to 15 years) to attend a national primary school regularly, unless otherwise exempted. Families who fail to register their... [ view full abstract ]

In Singapore, the Compulsory Education Act requires citizens of compulsory schooling age (between 7 to 15 years) to attend a national primary school regularly, unless otherwise exempted. Families who fail to register their child for school or send their child to school regularly are referred to organizations such as the Singapore Children’s Society (SCS). From 2003, caseworkers from SCS have been working with these families to ensure that their children attend school regularly. This retrospective study revisited families we had worked with between 2003 and 2014. We explored their perception of education, reasons for the children not being registered for or not attending school regularly, and their perceptions of the caseworker and the interventions provided.

Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2015 with 15 children and 33 relevant individuals (e.g., parents, caregivers, and siblings) who received Compulsory Education intervention. Qualitative analyses suggested that while participants recognized the importance of education, especially for future job opportunities, factors such as family issues, financial difficulties and motivation of the child also affected school attendance. Intervention strategies included both direct and indirect financial assistance and equipping the child with skills to manage emotions and using incentives to reward regular school attendance. The study also shed light on the difficulties children faced upon returning to school. Insights from this study highlight the importance of addressing children’s emotional issues and involving community partners to provide continual support to families post-intervention.