A new directive from the Ministry of Education requires schools to alert police when a pupil is absent without prior notification from parents and cannot be accounted for through established contact procedures.
The measure, included in the guidelines for the new school year for primary schools and kindergartens, is based on legislation introduced last year following reforms linked to concerns over the so-called "forgotten child syndrome."
Under the procedure, schools must be informed by 8am if a child will be absent from class.
Search process begins at 8am
If a child does not arrive at school and no absence has been reported, the school's management or a designated member of staff must immediately contact the parents by telephone to determine the reason for the absence and, crucially, to confirm that they are aware the child is not at school.
If telephone contact cannot be established, an SMS message must be sent to the registered mobile numbers of the child's parents.
Should all attempts remain unsuccessful by 8:45am, the school must contact the police for further action.
The procedure applies to both public and private primary schools and kindergartens.
It was introduced in 2025 following amendments approved by parliament after discussions about the need for the rapid identification of cases where a child never arrives at school while parents mistakenly believe the child is already there.
The debate was prompted in part by an incident associated with the so-called forgotten child syndrome.
Parents, however, remain the first line of responsibility. They are required to notify the school either the previous day or on the morning of any absence, even if it involves only a few hours.
Attendance checks continue throughout the day
Attendance monitoring does not end with the morning roll call.
The guidelines require schools to verify pupils' presence after every break and whenever a different teacher enters the classroom, allowing staff to identify any unexplained absence during the school day.
Repeated absences monitored
A separate procedure applies when absences become frequent or systematic.
If a pupil is absent for more than five consecutive days without a satisfactory explanation, or records repeated unjustified absences over time, school management must notify the relevant district education office.
The same approach applies in cases of persistent late arrival.
Where concerns arise about inadequate care or welfare issues, the police and/or Social Welfare Services may become involved.
Schools are also required to continue monitoring attendance and keep the authorities updated on the progress of any case.
