ONE in eight teachers are absent on any given day or, in other words, KZN's entire teaching core takes a day's leave every eight days or the equivalent of 42 days sick leave during an 18 month cycle. These were some of the conclusions drawn from the staggering statistics that came to light during KZN Education MEC, Senzo Mchunu's State of Readiness with Respect to the Opening of Public Schools report, delivered earlier this week during a sitting of the KZN Legislature.
DA KZN Education spokesperson, Tom Stokes, said the figures would begin to cast some light on the serious issue of teacher absenteeism and the impact it is having on pupil absenteeism and other ills. "In his report, the MEC revealed that some 14.6% of state paid teachers were absent on the first day of school this year, with absenteeism over the first three days averaging out at 13.7%. Against this was the absentee rate of 3.1% for teachers paid by school governing bodies."
According to Stokes, while the report failed to clarify whether the high absenteeism was perpetuated throughout the year, the MEC's comment that "this figure is congruent with findings in previous years" suggested that the levels were the norm for the year. "If educators are only entitled to 12 days sick leave within an 18 month cycle, one assumes that the extra 30 days are being taken without permission and on full pay. Even more alarming is that if we assume that half of the teachers in our province stick to the 12 days permitted, the other half average 72 days off over 18 months, which is equal to 48 sick days a year."
Stokes said the conclusions drawn were that "school governing body educators are closer to their employer than state-paid educators, who see their employer as far removed from their place of work and who do not see the principal as the representative of their employer" and that "the perception of many principals that they do not represent the employer and that the province's Education department needs to deal with such matters" (teacher absenteeism) were a key indicator of the need to give principals and school governing bodies greater autonomy in placing and retrenching teachers.
"The high absenteeism figures are a key determinant of poor teaching and poor academic results. They are also a sure sign that discipline structures are not in place and that any attempts to rein in unruly educators are being superseded by SADTU's protection of its ill-disciplined members."
Statement issued by Tom Stokes, MPP, Democratic Alliance KZN spokesperson for education, March 11 2010
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