Covid fears are keeping some children away from school, but others are staying away because their parents support truancy

Glen Innes School Principal Jono Hendricks says attendance at his school was 90 percent before Covid, but was 70 percent last term.

That's despite intense work to allay fears about classroom safety.

He says some parents are worried about whether school's safe, but others condone absenteeism.

Hendricks says he has to work exceptionally hard with 20 to 25 families to reengage them.