Days after Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion left the small community of Gunbalanya, east of Darwin, the enthusiasm for the attendance program remains.
It is the first community to have truancy officers deployed - people recruited from the local community to help raise attendance levels - in 40 of the worst performing areas around the country.
The program kicked off on Tuesday, the first day of term, when children in Gunbalanya were enrolled in school.
There will be about 400 truancy officers recruited to encourage kids to get to school.
And with 16 deployed in Gunbalanya on Tuesday and another 19 expected in other Territory communities by the end of the month, it could mean an economic boost in the communities where the truancy officers work.
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The early figures for enrolment in Gunbalanya have been promising - lifting the rate by more than 40 per cent on last year's numbers.
But there have been criticisms, earlier this week the mayor of the West Arnhem Shire said the program will fail.
NITV has not been able to reach him for comment.
