Statistics from the Department of Education from 2006/07 revealed there were absences in 7.7 per cent of half-day school sessions in Northern Ireland.
This compares with 7.9 per cent in England, 9.3 per cent in Wales and 9.4 per cent in Scotland.
However, in Northern Ireland 2.4 per cent of sessions were unauthorised absences, compared with 1.5 per cent in England, 1.8 per cent in Wales and two per cent in Scotland.
The most common reason for authorised absence in Northern Ireland was illness plus medical or dental appointments. Other reasons were bereavement or because a child had been suspended.
Other absence, which includes absence not covered by any other code or a reason not acceptable to the school - for example, the pupil's, parent's or sibling's birthday - accounted for a quarter of all absences and 1.9 per cent of all half-day sessions.
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