Factors contributing to absenteeism among high school teachers in Zambia: The case study of selected high schools of Lusaka District
Date
2011-05-18
Authors
Malungo, Emeldah Michelo
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Abstract
This study investigated factors contributing to teacher absenteeism in high schools. It also investigated the sex that frequently absented itself and the solutions to teacher
absenteeism.The study followed a case study design. The population consisted all the 17 high schools of Lusaka Urban district. Purposive and simple random sampling were used to select the schools; the selected sample comprised teachers, pupils and heads of departments, head teachers and deputy head teachers. In depth interviews, focus group discussions and questionnaires were used to get more in depth data. Quantitative data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) while qualitative data were categorised and analysed into themes and sub-themes.
The investigations and findings revealed a number of factors that contributed to teacher absenteeism which included illness, business and private tuition, watching television in the staffroom, studies and study leave, lack of motivation, frustration by management,official duties, taking care of young and sick children and family members. The other factors were heavy teaching loads, poor conditions of service, poor salaries, lack of teaching materials and incompetence and lack of seriousness among teachers. It was also revealed that female teachers absented themselves more than male teachers.The study made recommendations that schools and the Ministry of Education could utilise to reduce teacher absenteeism namely: providing incentives to deserving teachers,providing better conditions of service, providing adequate teaching materials, constructing more houses, training more teachers especially in science, mathematics and
Business studies and remunerating teachers more.
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Absenteeism-School Teachers-Zambia