CAUSES OF TEACHER ABSENTEEISM IN SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOLS OF KAYUNGA DISTRICT IN UGANDA. A DESCRIPTIVE STUDY.

Abstract

Background: Teacher absenteeism is when the teacher is out of school either by delaying, leaving before official closing time, not attending school at all, or when the teacher is at school but missing classes. Absenteeism is caused by many factors like personal illness, a relative’s sickness, family conflicts, lack of job satisfaction leading to low morale, lack of personal competence, lack of friendly work group norms, poor leadership at the workplace, in effective supervision and inspection, assignment of other duties outside the workplace, bad weather conditions, union influence, and poor working conditions. The study aims to examine the causes of absenteeism in selected secondary schools of Kayunga District in Uganda.  Methodology: This is a descriptive survey design in which quantitative research methods were used on 210 who included the DEO, 10 head teachers, 100 teachers, and 100 Students.  Results: 54.0% of the respondents were male while 46.0% were females. According to teacher responses, 67% agreed that female teachers are usually absent due to family responsibilities, and 58% agreed that male teachers are usually absent because of attending their business to substitute for their income. 52% agreed that old teachers are mostly absent because they lost their morale.64% of the teachers agreed that teachers are absent due to illness. 46% of teachers agreed that teachers of low level of education attend further education programs. (46%) agreed that teachers absent themselves because they are not satisfied with their job.   Conclusion: Teachers absent themselves because they are unsatisfied with their jobs, family responsibilities, substitute income, undertaking further studies, lost morale, and are tired and some miss due to illness.   Recommendation: School employers should ensure that there is constant supervision and remuneration to motivate teachers as a way of curbing teachers’ absenteeism.