2024 Volume 64 Issue 2 Pages 113-118
Recently, persistent school non-attendance (PSNA) has been a big problem not only for children and adolescents but also in the society. According to the Ministry of Education, PSNA is defined as absenteeism for＞30 school days annually or “a situation in which a student is unable or unwilling to attend school because of psychological, emotional, physical, or social factors/backgrounds (excluding illness or economic reasons).” In 2021, 244,940 students of elementary and intermediate schools (50 in 1,000 intermediate school students and 13 in 1,000 elementary school students) were registered with PSNA, increasing by 24.9% from 2020. Considering the COVID-19 pandemic, the rate of increase in 2021 was remarkable. The Ministry of Education said that it is a serious problem that should be approached from the perspective that PSNA can happen to any student.
PSNA appears to be driven by overlapping medical, individual, family, and social factors. Children and adolescents complain about symptoms, such as headache and abdominal pain in the morning of school days. Home doctors should take care of the symptoms and support them. If any illness is not found, doctors should assume that they have some difficulties in their lives at school and/or home. Teachers, nurses, and psychologists in schools could support the children. If children and adolescents with PSNA refuse to contact them, they may be encouraged to attend another public educational center. Making attendance school calendars is sometimes useful as a behavior therapy. Supportive psychotherapy, separate from the guardian, is necessary and useful for children and adolescents with PSNA. Early intervention is necessary to care for their environment at school and home and/or psychosocial factors. It aims to regain spirits, find something to inspire them, and engage with the society eventually.
