Every empty school desk hides a housing story we fail to track

Zero data collected connecting housing situation to missed school attendance

For our young people to make it to school regularly and to have positive educational outcomes, it is imperative that their needs are met outside the classroom. A fundamental need is stable housing.    

Our system is failing to collect and monitor data on students’ housing situations when they are absent from school.  This is a gaping void if the government is truly committed to a social impact approach. Understanding and monitoring the link between school absenteeism and housing is key to understanding barriers to educational attainment – a core component of social impact and outcomes. 

With the current coalition government placing increased attention on student truancy, there should be no hesitation in embedding the collection of housing data within the school education system.  

Data source: OIA decline, no data held by Ministry of Education