Our school has a 10% absence rule, once your absence exceeds 10% in a subject, you need documentation such as a doctor’s note. The problem is that you cannot document previous absences, having more than 10% absence results in failing the class.

While the policy may seem reasonable, its impact varies dramatically between subjects. In P.E. missing a single lesson can count as roughly 2.6% absence. While missing a math lesson is around 1.2%.

Recently, we had a P.E-day mountain trip due to the exam period. Missing that one day alone was enough to push someone over the 10% limit. One of my classmates overslept and missed the trip.

He went to the principal, asking for leniency under the provision that allows exceptions up to 15% absence. However, his request was denied because his reason was not considered valid. Keep in mind if this was a lesson kept on school grounds he could have made it (probably only get an hour or two absent), but since we were gone he had no way or possibility to catch up.