School will pay pupils to reduce truancy

Tired of increased absenteeism and tardiness by pupils, a privately run high school in south-western Sweden is prepared to pay to keep the number of no-shows down.

Bengt Walter, principal of the Falkenberg High School of Design, said a growing number of the school's 60 pupils, aged 16 to 19, had been late, or missed school. Most, he said, were doing so because of after-school jobs.

Instead of assigning absentees with more homework, Mr Walter said the school would pay pupils who missed none of their classes each month 500 kronor (£35).

They would receive the payment every month until they graduated. If a student was sick or late for class money would be deducted from the monthly amount.

"We see this as a quality increase in the level of education," Mr Walter said. "We want to make a positive economic contribution to students who think they don't have enough money and feel they have to work outside school to make some, which takes away both time and energy from education."

Mr Walter would not say how much the plan would cost the school. "It is an investment in the students' future," he said.