No efforts spared in locating absentee Hong Kong pupils, education official says
Legislative panel hears that if repeated attempts to contact children and their families fail, the cases would be referred to other authorities such as police
Hong Kong education officials are redoubling their efforts to contact 162 pupils who missed school from 2011 to 2016, vowing to no longer close such cases of absenteeism and instead refer them to police or social welfare authorities.
If the bureau still could not reach pupils or their families despite repeated attempts and inquiries, it would refer the case to other departments such as police or the Social Welfare Department for follow-up.
Hong Kong kindergarten pupils absent more than seven days must be reported, officials say
“More important, the bureau will follow up every non-attendance case thoroughly and will not close any cases because it is unable to contact the pupils or their parents,” Woo said in describing the change in protocol.
The bureau later admitted its staff had attempted but failed to get in touch with the teenager and his family after he started skipping classes in 2011. The bureau stopped following the case in mid-2012.