More than 58,000 WA students now missing a day a week from school

Media Release | 4 March 2026

Liam Staltari MLA

Shadow Minister for Education;

Early Childhood; Disability Services

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More than 58,000 WA students now missing a day a week from school

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New figures have revealed attendance at WA’s government schools continues to go

backwards under the Cook Labor Government – with more than 58,000 students now

attending school less than 80 per cent of the time.

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That means that nearly one-in-five WA public school students are missing the equivalent of

at least one day every week – a level of non-attendance that could compromise student

learning and wellbeing.

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The figures, drawn from answers to Opposition Parliamentary Questions and the

Productivity Commission’s Annual Report on Government Services, show both overall

attendance rates and chronic non-attendance worsening over time.

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Key figures include:

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• For all students in Years 1 to 10, a decline in attendance rates from 91.3 per cent in

2017 to 86.9 per cent in 2025, with WA below the national average of 87.6 per cent.

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• A nearly 10 per cent drop in attendance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

students in Years 1 to 10 between 2017 and 2025 from 76.7 per cent to 67.6 per

cent.

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Shadow Education Minister Liam Staltari said the data was a warning sign that the Cook

Labor Government had failed for too long to focus on the basics in education.

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“When attendance goes backwards, we know that students aren’t learning and that their

future is being put on the line,” he said.

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“Behind every percentage point are thousands of missed school days – and for many

children, which means falling behind and having difficulty catching up.”

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Mr Staltari said declining attendance was part of a wider pattern in WA’s public schools

after almost a decade of WA Labor.

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“Whether it’s surging teacher resignations, dilapidated infrastructure or falling attendance

rates – students, parents and staff are paying the price for nearly 10 years of this

Government’s neglect of our schools,” he said.

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Mr Staltari called on the Government to immediately release a clear, measurable plan to

lift attendance – including transparent targets, stronger early intervention for at-risk

students, and bolstered resourcing to help schools and families address the causes of

chronic non-attendance.

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“School is our kids’ best shot at a quality education and a good start in life. The time for

excuses is long gone – it’s time for action,” he said.

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Contact: Graham Mason – 0419 194 792

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