Germany

In Germany, school is compulsory from seven to 16. Starting later than in other western European countries is thought of as a predictor of lower truancy rates. However, Germany still has a problem with truancy. An in-depth study in 2002 found that 12% of pupils had truanted in the two weeks prior to being asked. The same research, by the University of Cologne, highlighted the link between truancy and crime, saying repeat truants are at risk of criminality. Consequently, since the 1990s Germany has tightened its laws, allowing police to fine and imprison parents of truants.

The parents of a child absent from school without a legitimate excuse are first notified by the school. If the parents refuse to send their child to school or are unable to control their child, local child services or social services officers may request the police to escort the child to school and, in extreme cases, can petition a court to partially or completely remove child custody from the parents. Parents may also be fined in cases of refusal.

In a very small number of cases - three have been reported in the past two years - a teenager has been jailed for failing to attend school. One 16-year old girl was jailed for two weeks after she refused to pay fines or do community service after truanting. The girl's family claimed they had no control over her. The judge in the case, Andreas Pech, told the Associated Press that when the girl appeared in court, she still refused to accept the necessity of attending school and blamed her absence from class on her teachers. He said the girl would have to be shown quite clearly how serious her situation was.

Ireland

In 2004, rates of truancy in Ireland were double that of England. In 2002 laws were brought in to fine and, in the worst cases, imprison parents of persistent truants, but they are failing to make a significant dent in the figures. Schools are starting to take a more holistic view of truancy, questioning whether they could be a factor in pupils failing to turn up to school. A government research report last year found that boys are more likely to skip school than girls, and that those from disadvantaged homes are most at risk. The report, published by the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB), also focused on the schools: where teachers have high expectations and positive relationships with pupils, the pupils are more likely to turn up to school. The report said: "The challenge is to engage students, particularly those with poor attendance records, with more innovative teaching and learning strategies and to create a greater sense of attachment and ownership of school life."

The findings have had influence. A new strategy on behaviour and attendance in Irish schools, launched at the beginning of this year, focused less on sanctions against students and more on real incentives for them to go to school. Schools should ensure that all students have a sense of belonging to their school, the curriculum should suit pupils and not put them off and behaviour and classroom discipline should be tackled to ensure that school is somewhere students actually want to be.

Nuala Doherty, director of the NEWB, said at the launch that there was no "quick-fix" for truancy, adding: "The first step to ensuring that children actually come to school is to ensure that they have a sense of belonging to school - that they like school and that they see its relevance to their future."