SURE, the Ministry of Education's Pre-School Education Branch (PEB) can help put a child in pre-school. But keeping the child in school is really the parents' job.

Three kindergarten principals The New Paper spoke to said that if parents are not cooperative, it is hard for them to help keep their children in school.

In Vishnu's case, his principal, Mrs M Susi, said she had called the family repeatedly when his attendance became irregular.

She even sent her teachers to the boy's home, and they'd leave notes for his parents to contact the school.

But the efforts were to no avail.

Ms Susi said: "Parents must tell us if you want your child to leave the school.

You might have your reasons and we can't force you to stay, but don't just disappear."

Ms Linda Loo, principal of YWCA (Outram) Kindergarten, agreed that parents should not do the "disappearing act".

She said she has tried to reach out to some families who tell her that "yes, we will enrol our child in your kindergarten". But they never show up despite many reminders.

"It takes two hands to clap. We can't keep our fingers on your children if your fingers are off them yourself," she added.

This article was first published in The New Paper.