Cap. 605 Art. 59Offences committed by parents.

(1) Any parent of a minor who -

(a) fails to register that minor in a State school or in a licensed school under this Act for the first scholastic year starting when he is of compulsory school age or fails to ensure that the minor is so registered at all times for every scholastic year during the whole period that the minor is of compulsory school age or fails to cause that minor to continue to be so registered up to the end of the scholastic year during which the minor ceases to be of compulsory school age or up to the end of such further period as the Minister may by regulations prescribe; or

(b) fails to ensure, without a good and sufficient cause, that the minor attends school regularly on each scholastic day during such period that the minor is of compulsory school age and up to the end of the scholastic year during which the minor ceases to be of compulsory school age and up to the end of such further period as the Minister may by regulations prescribe; or

(c) fails to abide by a decision of the Board, shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to the punishments established for contraventions and to a fine (multa) not exceeding one hundred euro (€100) for each day during which the offence continues in the case of a continuing offence:

Provided that no criminal proceedings for an offence under paragraph (b) shall be taken unless the parent, within three (3) days from the date he receives a notice from the Division of Education requesting him to explain the absence of the minor from school, fails to give a good and sufficient explanation.

(2) Any person who after being summoned to appear before the Commissioner for Justice fails, without reasonable justification, to do so on any occasion when he is to so appear, or who fails without reasonable justification to comply with an order issued to him by the Commissioner for Justice or by the Board shall be guilty of an offence against this Act and shall be liable on conviction by the Court of Magistrates to a fine (multa) of between one hundred euro (€100) and five hundred euro (€500) or to imprisonment for a period of three (3) months or to both such fine and imprisonment:

Provided that the Court of Magistrates may also issue any other order it may deem appropriate.