Exploring school management teams' approaches for managing teacher absenteeism in rural schools.
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Date
2015
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Abstract
The purpose of the study was to explore School Management Team (SMT) approaches for
managing teacher absenteeism in the rural context of UMgungundlovu District. To fulfil
the purpose of the study, key questions posed addressed the approaches used to manage
teacher absenteeism, the challenges SMTs faced with managing teacher absenteeism and
how they addressed these. Data generated from the key questions was used to answer the
research question, pertaining to the approaches used for managing teacher absenteeism in a
rural context. The interpretive paradigm and qualitative case study were embraced as a
research approach, with data generated using semi-structured interviews and document
analysis. Interviews were held with six SMT members (one acting principal, one Deputy
Principal and four Heads of Department) from three high schools. Documents analysed
were the time books, leave registers, teacher attendance policies, leave forms and
substitute timetable. Findings of the study revealed that approaches used by SMTs in
managing teacher absenteeism included formulating or following the Department of Basic
Education (DoBE) teacher attendance policies; arranging leave in advance; reporting
absence timeously; keeping a record of absence; encouraging punctuality; monitoring
work; and motivating teachers. The challenges faced in managing teacher absenteeism
were lack of passion for teaching; teachers’ personalities; teacher sickness; pressure on
other teachers; and commuting. In addressing them and managing teacher absenteeism the
findings revealed the strategies adopted by the SMTs to be filling the gaps; greater
managerial grip; catching up with the schedule; and involving stakeholders. Some of the
conclusions I made are that keeping records of managing teacher absenteeism is the first
step of managing this problem, and that SMTs are the ones who create more challenges in
managing teacher absenteeism by not monitoring it properly and by loosening the
managerial grip. I recommend further study of the approaches used by SMTs to manage
teacher absenteeism on a large scale that will involve a number of schools and a number of
SMT members to produce quantitative reports.
Description
Master of Education in Educational Leadership, Management and Policy. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 2015.
Keywords
School management teams--KwaZulu-Natal--Pietermaritzburg., Educational leadership--KwaZulu-Natal--Pietermaritzburg., Teacher turnover--KwaZulu-Natal--Pietermaritzburg., Teachers--Leave of absence., Theses--Education., Teachers--Absenteeism.