study identifies cause of teacher absence from classroom

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17-08-08

A STUDY conducted by the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) on teacher absence in public primary schools, has revealed that professional teachers were absent more frequently than non-professional teachers.
It named ill-health, salary collection, funerals and long distance lectures as some of the causes of teacher absence in many schools.
“In some of the communities, especially in the rural areas, it was not uncommon to arrive at a school only to be told that because of a funeral in the community or in a nearby community, the school had been closed. The research team met at least two schools making these arrangements,” the study revealed.
The study was conducted in 30 primary schools in the Asante Akim North, Birim North and Wa West districts. It was carried out between February 25 and March 14, 2008.
Disclosing the research findings at a media briefing in Accra yesterday, a programme officer at the CDD, Mr Joseph Asunka, said although the pilot study was conducted in three districts, the situation reflected what pertained in other districts.
He said more than half (57 per cent) of professional teachers were absent at least once in the week of the study compared with 36 per cent of the non-professional teachers.
“Moreover, nearly a quarter (22 per cent) of professional teachers were absent at least twice during the week compared with only nine per cent of non-professional teachers,” he said.
He said the study showed that head teachers who were to ensure supervision were more frequently absent than regular teachers as a result of attending official duties at the district education office, and indicated that “where more than a quarter of head teachers (26 per cent) were absent at least twice within the week, only 14 per cent of the regular teachers were similarly absent”.
Mr Asunka noted that the staff population of the sample schools was 192, consisting of 162 teachers and 30 head teachers, saying that of those numbers, 134 teachers and 28 head teachers were interviewed.
He said teacher absence was common in public primary schools at least in the three districts mentioned as the average teacher absence rate was 27 per cent, and stated that nearly half (47 per cent) of teachers were absent during at least one of the five visits.
Teacher absence, he said, was high at the beginning of the week (24 per cent on Monday), declined through mid week (12 and 19 per cent on Tuesday and Wednesday) and rose very high on Friday.
“Most of the head teachers reported sickness/medical check-up (82 per cent), salary collection (57 per cent) and attending funerals (46 per cent) as the frequent reasons for teacher absence. The Friday lectures under the long distance education programme also came up strongly as reason for teacher absence during the interviews with the teachers,” he said.
Mr Asunka further stated that teacher absence rates were also higher among male than female teachers as more than a third (35 per cent) of male teachers were absent once in the week of study whereas less than a quarter (23 per cent) of female teachers were similarly absent.
He noted that schools equipped with staff common rooms recorded lower teacher absence rates; explaining that only 21 per cent of teachers in schools equipped with staff common rooms where absent at least once during the week, more than half (53 per cent) were absent in schools without staff common rooms.
“The frequency of teacher absence is relatively lower in schools with pupils’ desks. Whereas only about 10 per cent of teachers in schools that have desks for pupils were absent at least twice in the week, nearly a quarter (22 per cent) of schools without pupils’ desks were similarly absent,” he said, and that schools with access to portable water and electricity recorded lower rates of teacher absence.
Mr Asunka said schools located near health care facilities and lorry stations recorded significantly lower teacher absence rates, adding that whereas 40 per cent of teachers in schools located near health facilities were absent at least once in the week, more than half (56 per cent) of teachers in schools located far from healthcare facilities were similarly absent.
He called on the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports and the Ghana Education Service (GES) to strengthen supervision in public schools, and also stressed the need for the introduction of the National Inspectorate Board to be fast tracked.
“We find that active Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) significantly lower teacher absence rates and should be vigorously promoted in all schools,” he urged, and explained that PTAs would be better placed to discourage local or informal arrangements, especially in rural areas.
He further recommended the rescheduling of the distance education lessons to Saturday, saying that it could help lower teacher absence, and urged the GES to consider instituting vacation sandwich programmes to cater for basic school teachers.
Responding to the findings, the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Mr Angel Carbonu, said the government should revisit the resource allocation in the education sector.