THE COST OF TEACHER ABSENTEEISM IN SELECTED SOSHANGUVE TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS, SOUTH AFRICA
Mashaba E. K.
Tshwane University of Technology
Maile S.
Tshwane University of Technology
ABSTRACT
Research has shown a positive correlation between teacher absenteeism and learner performance, and has also demonstrated that teacher absenteeism contributes to falling education standards and academic underachievement. An in-depth scrutiny of current literature reveals the pervasive little systematic research and data on teacher absence in developing nations, despite being widely recognized as a serious problem particularly in disadvantaged areas. In this study we investigated the monetary cost of absent days incurred by teachers in eight (n-8) selected schools in the district of Tshwane West (D15) located in Soshanguve, Gauteng Province, South Africa. We used qualitative research strategies to draw data. The findings reveal that costs are not in substantial in relation to the overall education costs, because teacher salaries account for a significant amount of the overall spending. Sick leave accounts for the highest proportion of leave taken and teachers mostly take 1 to 2 days leave pattern which they do not provide a medical certificate.
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