The number of persistent absentees in all schools fell from 4.1 per cent to 3.6 per cent. The rate of absence in secondary schools dropped from 7.87 per cent in 2006/07 to 7.36 per cent in 2007/08.
Absences in special schools also dropped from a rate of 10.62 per cent to 10.57 per cent. But absences in primary schools rose from 5.18 per cent to 5.26 per cent.
Children's minister Delyth Morgan said that the results show the government is on track.
She said: "Overall, the latest statistics show that our drive to reduce absence, and particularly persistent absence, has been very successful and we are going to continue to build on this success."
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