New data has been released by the Ministry of Education on the number of students who are missing school.

75 percent of schools took part in the survey, however the figures cover only a single week of the school year meaning it's difficult to draw firm conclusions on the findings.

The numbers show rates of absenteeism were higher in 2014 than in 2013, with a total national absence rate of 10.8 percent.

That equates to 79,000 students a day.

Unjustified absences were up compared with the previous year, from 3.9 percent to 4.6.

The research shows truancy rates were higher for year 13 students and Maori students.

Labour MP Chris Hipkins believes it shows current measures to combat truancy aren't working.

"They're revamping it. It's all new bells, and whistles and the result has been that truancy's gone up. They've turned a blind eye to the massive problems that schools have been reporting with the new service and those chickens are coming home to roost."