New report says 70% of kids are skipping school by spring break – is the Government hiding the facts

Neither the Manitoba government nor school boards want you to know this: in some schools, nearly 70% of students are absent by spring break—and no politician seems willing to confront it, talk about it, or listen to solutions. That’s the shocking reality exposed in Absent, a new documentary announced by Kent Dueck of Inter City Youth Alive on Inside Politics. Premiering October 1, the film shines a piercing light on a crisis long hidden behind political spin and buried statistics.

Nine years in the making, Absent is more than just a film—it’s a warning. Dueck and community advocate Sel Burrows have been pressing this issue for almost a decade, only to watch task forces produce glossy reports while classrooms emptied out. Schools still collect full per-student funding, but teachers describe dwindling attendance, some calling their schools “ghost towns.” One administrator even said, “If we have 50% of our students attending by spring, we say that’s a success.”

Behind those numbers are real children, futures slipping away. Dueck stresses the human cost: “You’re not just losing a student. You’re losing a human being.” He recalls the heartbreaking case of Tina Fontaine, reminding us that “we lost Tina first at school.” For too long, Manitoba has normalized educational failure, often dismissing or disguising the problem instead of addressing it.

But Absent doesn’t just deliver grim statistics—it showcases solutions. Through Engage Education, Duick’s organization has tested new approaches, achieving a 73% success rate in re-engaging kids who had dropped out. Stories of students finding their way back to the classroom reveal what’s possible when communities act, even while governments stall.

The October 1 premiere will be more than a screening—it will feature a panel discussion with educators, advocates, and a student who has lived through the struggle. It’s a chance for Manitobans to hear unfiltered truths that politicians have avoided for years, and to demand better.

Tickets are on sale now at icya.ca, but they’re going fast. If you care about Manitoba’s future, this is not just a film to watch—it’s a conversation to join. Because every empty desk represents more than a number. It’s a life, and it’s time to stop pretending everything is fine.

#cdnpoli #politicalnews #canada #mbpoli #manitoba #education