The parents of a 15-year-old South Otago boy who is refusing to go to school say their son "just won't get out of bed".
It follows the parents' being prosecuted and fined $50 for their son being unenrolled from school after too many unjustified absences.
The boy's mother says she's tried everything to get him to go to school.
"He just won't get out of bed to go to school," she told Newshub. "I can't force him to go there because it would be assault."
She said it would make her happy if he went back to school.
"I'll be happy when he goes back - I'll feel a lot better."
The boy's father agreed there wasn't much they could do.
"He wasn't getting out of bed," the father told Newshub. "I've been down there trying to get him out, and nope, he wouldn't go.
"Anyway, we tried our hardest; he wouldn't go because he wanted to stay home."
The Otago Daily Times reported that the parents also had to pay $130 in court costs.
Newshub.
