When Truants and School Refusers Grow Up

Abstract

Truancy is the term commonly used to describe unjustifiable absence from school. Persistent truancy occurs in approximately 1 per cent of primary school children. It increases considerably over the secondary school years to affect about 10 per cent of 15-year-olds. It is often associated with evidence of other antisocial activity. Educational attainment is inclined to be low. And children who truant often come from disadvantaged homes (Fogelman et al, 1980). Truancy in cases referred to child psychiatrists is usually just one manifestation of a conduct disorder characterized by a whole variety of antisocial behaviour (Hersov, 1960).