Truancy and Modern Languages.

In February last year, former Education Secretary Estelle Morris admitted to the BBC that the scrapping of compulsory Modern Foreign Language (she calls it "French") was part of a plan to crackdown on truancy problems in English schools. Scrap MFL and children will want to go to school.

Did it work?

Well, no, of course it didn't.

Recent news reports tell us that truancy has got worse and has hit record levels.

According to teen issues website, students truant from school for the following reasons:

To escape bullying at school.

Because lessons are hard and it is easier to play truant.

Because the truant has no interest in school.

Exclusions.

Taking holidays.

Visiting health professionals.

Running errands.

Bad relationships with teachers or other instructors

No mention of languages lessons at all.

Funny, that.