Assessing the implementation of strategies used by school heads to manage teachers’ absenteeism in community secondary schools in Babati district
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Date
2016
Authors
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Dar es Salaam
Abstract
This study assessed the implementation of strategies used by school heads to manage teachers’ absenteeism in community secondary schools in Babati District. The objectives of the study were: To find out relationship between level of education of the teachers and their awareness on types of teachers’ absenteeism; Find out causes of teachers’ absenteeism; Examine strategies used by school heads to manage teachers’ absenteeism and the extent heads of schools implemented them in managing teachers absenteeism; Investigate challenges facing heads of schools in managing teachers’ absenteeism. The study used a mixed methods approach. It involved a total of 87 respondents including heads of schools, teachers, DSEO and TDS Secretary. The data were collected through questionnaires, interviews and documentary review. It was found that authorized type of teachers’ absenteeism exists more in community secondary schools than unauthorized; there is no relationship between level of education of teachers and their awareness on types of teachers’ absenteeism. Causes of teachers absenteeism were reported to be; poor working conditions, social-cultural responsibilities, pay structure, community disasters, poor management; other duties; alcoholism; conflict; and lack of motivation. The strategies used by school heads to manage teachers’ absenteeism included; the use of teachers’ attendance registers; class journals; verbal warning; period compensation for lost periods; teachers’ meetings; counterchecking folios; permission form; Out-going permission book and reporting of absentee teachers to the DSEO office. Some of these were implemented by heads of schools but some were not. Major challenges that heads face in managing absenteeism were; lack of power to sanction absent teachers; cheating, enmity between heads of school and absentee teachers; lack of accommodation; lack of confidence among heads of schools and lack of moral education to teachers. The study concludes that teachers’ absenteeism in community secondary schools was a result of more existence of authorize type of teacher’ absenteeism in community secondary schools, unawareness of teachers on types of teachers absenteeism exist in community secondary schools and poor working conditions , although the strategies used to manage teachers’ absenteeism were available in community secondary schools, some were implemented and others were not implemented due to lack of confidence to heads to punish absent teachers, less power to sanction and deduct teachers’ salary, heads of schools employed various strategies to manage teachers’ absenteeism in community secondary schools, however their efforts were undermined by lack of mandate power to punish absent teachers. The study recommended that the TSD office in collaboration with the DSEO office should provide ethics education to teachers and heads; Government should encourage construction of classrooms by the community to go hand in hand with construction of teachers’ houses so as to reduce teachers’ distance from home to work stations. Also construction of schools should follow school mapping procedures. In order to increase confidence of heads of schools to implement strategies used to manage teachers’ absenteeism, Government through the MoEVT should provide enough management seminars to heads of schools, and recheck rules and regulations used to manage teachers’ absenteeism at least to give heads of schools some power to dismiss and deduct salaries of absent teachers.
Description
Available in print form, East Africana Collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, Class mark (THS EAF LB3081.T34P64)
Keywords
School management and organization, School principals, Absenteeism, Community schools, Community secondary schools, Babati district, Tanzania
Citation
Polycarp, B. (2016) Assessing the implementation of strategies used by school heads to manage teachers’ absenteeism in community secondary schools in Babati district, Master dissertation, University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam