Students in Croatia miss over 40 million hours of class each school year, raising concerns about a growing problem of attendance, especially in high schools.
Croatia is experiencing a troubling trend in student attendance, with over 40 million hours of absences recorded in the school year of 2024/2025. While a significant portion of these absences are officially justified, experts are warning that the ease of missing school is developing into a complex issue, particularly in high schools. On average, students are absent for about 90 hours each year, a statistic that reflects a consistent pattern over previous years.
The Croatian school physician’s services are engaged when schools indicate that a child has persistent or prolonged absences, regardless of whether these absences are justified. Marija Posavec, head of the School and Adolescent Medicine Service from the Croatian Institute of Public Health, emphasizes that the goal is not to verify the justification of absences, but rather to determine the underlying causes. This approach aims to address the problem holistically, recognizing that frequent absences can lead to significant educational and social consequences for students.
Experts highlight the need for collaboration between educational authorities, health professionals, and families to identify and mitigate factors contributing to school absenteeism. As this trend continues, it raises concerns about the long-term implications for students’ academic performance and overall well-being, necessitating decisive action from all involved parties to ensure that students remain engaged and present in their education.
