Government should concentrate on school failures rather than the success stories, Opposition leader Jennifer Smith said yesterday.

Ms Smith -- who doubles up as Progressive Labour Party Shadow Education Minister -- said an initiative from Education Minister Tim Smith aimed at awarding good attendance was missing the mark.

She said: "I don't understand why the Minister decided on that particular solution to the problem which exists.'' Mr. Smith announced that Government will pay full Bermuda College tuition fees for all state sector school pupils who notch up a 95 percent attendance record.

But Ms Smith insisted the scheme would target the higher achievers -- not the youngsters scoring low grades, which statistics showed were the most likely to skip school.

Ms Smith added truancy was a serious problem at the new CedarBridge Academy -- but that the problem in the middle schools was almost as bad.

She said it appeared to be a problem coming through to senior school from the junior ones.

And she added the problem needed to be nipped in the bud -- before youngsters came up to the senior level.

And she added not enough concern was being shown for those who were persistent truants.

Ms Smith said: "We should be finding them, finding out what the problem is and motivating them to return to school.

"You cannot legislate young people to learn -- but you can certainly provide the motivation and policies to help them understand how important it is for them to learn.'' Earlier, PLP Sen. Neletha Butterfield told colleagues in the Upper House that Government should focus on finding the root cause of truancy.

Sen. Butterfield made the call during yesterday's motion to adjourn in Senate.

"We need to find out the reason why they are not going to school,'' she said.

"Is it because they are scared to because someone has threatened them or because they are not doing well in school?'' Sen. Butterfield's comments were aimed at Mr. Smith's announcement of the new initiatives to curb school absenteeism.

Sen. Butterfield also expressed concern that the Government's offer to pay Bermuda College tuition for students who maintain a 95 percent attendance record, a B average and submitted to drug testing, was aimed at the wrong individuals.

"What's the purpose of drug testing those who get a B average and have 95 percent attendance,'' she asked. "Those students usually do not have a drug problem.

"Those on the edge and those who are falling through the cracks need the incentives,'' Sen. Butterfield added. "There has to be a way to motivate students to do well.'' UBP Sen. Angelita Fox agreed with Sen. Butterfield's comments that the underlining cause of truancy has to be uncovered.

But she pointed out that Parliamentarians could not legislate "thou shall learn''.

"You can only provide opportunities,''She said.

And she pointed out that the incentives were also for parents to send home the message that "education is the key to opportunities''.

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