PA
Truancy rates in England have risen by 47 per cent since 1997, and have reached record highs with a shocking 64,000 students skiving school every day.
The number of youngsters bunking off school without a valid reason has increased by nearly 12 per cent since last autumn, compared with the same point in 2009.
There has also been a 50 per cent increase in the number of primary school children playing truant in the last four years.
The Government have blamed the figures on Labour's failure to crackdown on truants when it was in power.
Schools Minister Nick Gibb vowed the Coalition will put teachers back in control and give them more power in the classroom: 'Our Education Bill puts teachers back in control of the classroom so pupils can be taught without disruption and teachers have more power to tackle truancy.'
Hmm, what do you think? Is truancy just something kids do? Did you play truant? Do you suspect your kids do?