PARENTS and pupils at Ella Du Plessis High School in Windhoek are up in arms as chronic teacher absenteeism is causing a loss of valuable teaching time and pupils allegedly spend more time on the playground than in the classrooms.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source at Ella Du Plessis High School in Windhoek’s Khomasdal neighbourhood told The Namibian that 12 teachers were absent on Friday, and eight were absent yesterday.These two incidents appear to be a matter of ‘while the cat is away the mice are at play’ as the principal, Seth Januarie, was booked off sick for the two days.However, the source also said that teacher absenteeism at the school was not confined to these two days only, adding that teachers regularly do not turn up for work.According to the source there is seemingly no reason for the high rate of teacher absenteeism at the school.’The children spend more time outside on the school grounds than actually inside the classrooms where they are taught,’ the source said, adding that sometimes those teachers who do turn up for school do not teach their classes.The source said that many children and their parents have expressed unhappiness over this state of affairs, saying that they are losing valuable teaching time. ‘The children are the ones who are suffering because of this, and it is becoming a cause of concern,’ the source said.According to the source Januarie only came in to school on Monday to attempt to sort the mess out after he was informed that a photographer from The Namibian was at the school.’It is only when this kind of thing happens like when your photographer came to the school that any action is taken,’ the source said.The source told The Namibian that many teachers also do not bother to turn up for after-school lessons and classes. The Namibian has also learnt that after-school classes for learners were supposed to start last week, but to date no extra classes have taken place.’Some of the learners come from Katutura, they come from far for the extra classes and then the teachers don’t show up meaning that the child must go back home,’ the source said.Januarie however sang a different tune when he was contacted for comment, saying that the situation is somewhat ‘exaggerated’. Januarie confirmed that he was booked off by a doctor and was absent on Friday, adding that he went to work on Monday to attend to the situation at the school.According to Januarie, the school has a supervision roster where students, who were to be taught by absentee teachers, are directed to other teachers who have open slots in their timetables where they are supervised.Januarie said that one of teachers is attending a workshop, while a number of other teachers have also been booked off. ‘When teachers are absent and they return to school with a medical certificate there is nothing I can do, I am not a doctor, I cannot tell them that they were not sick,’ Januarie said.Januarie also complained that the school is without two department heads, saying that one is booked off sick and is currently in hospital.Januarie remained adamant that the situation at the school was not as bad as it was being made out, adding that he personally patrols the school premises and escorts pupils found outside to their respective classrooms.
