Under half of students regularly attended school in term 3 last year as the country grappled with Covid-19 and a spike in winter illnesses.
Regular attenda
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The Education Review Office warns New Zealand has worse school attendance than other English-speaking countries and many parents don't care if their children miss classes.
Low attendance at school is another sign the country's education system is slipping with children from lower socio-economic areas the worst affected, a think tank says.