Fines for parents of pupils who miss school in El Ejido

EL EJIDO will fine parents whose children consistently miss school.

The local town hall has approved a law which plans to issue fines of between €50 and €1,200 for parents who constantly fail to take their children to school.

They will also have to take part in workshops and talks on the matter.

The fines will be issued by the Local Police and the money will be invested in programmes to prevent absenteeism.

This law is the first of its kind in Almeria province and aims to prevent that “certain children, mainly from social groups in unfavourable social and financial situations” fail to attend school regularly or leave school early without a diploma.

There are 33 schools in El Ejido, with 16,476 pupils registered, of which 4,224 are not Spanish.