Parents benefiting from government child supplements will not be able to receive their funds if their children fail to register a 95% school attendance rate.

Families who earn €11,000 or less are entitled to a supplementary allowance of €400 for the first three children and €200 for the fourth child onwards. However this will not be allowed if students within the household fail to attend school regulary , following a decision by the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Ministry for Family and Social Solidarity.

Education Minister Evarist Bartolo stressed that school attendance is directly linked with academic achievement and tackling absenteeism ultimately means taking guiding these students towards a future career.  Poor school attendance impacts self-esteem, behaviour, employability and economic status in children's adult life.

Family and Social Solidarity Minister Michael Farrugia said that education is essential for fighting poverty's vicious cycle, and dependence on social benefits.

Absenteeism may be the result of a number of factors such as psycho-social variables, family structures, socio-economic status, school organisation and culture, as well as demographic factors.

13,000 families and 23,000 children are expected to benefit from the supplementary allowance.

The government has repeatedly said that it will be coming down hard on parents who encourage absenteeism. Earlier, it was reported that some parents even enquired as to how much sick days their children have left.

Dr Bartolo urged parents to collaborate.