A study on absenteeism among teachers and its impact on educational aspiration by a Bangalore University researcher points out that 42 per cent of teachers stay away from teaching in government primary schools in the State. The reasons vary from workshops conducted during school hours - to participation in activities like census and election duty.
According to the study, the rate of absenteeism is higher among female teachers than male teachers. During the academic year 2008-2009, 45.99 per cent female teachers skipped classroom activities and 35.73 per cent male teachers did not take sessions for students of primary schools.
Reasons listed for absenteeism are lack of transport facilities for teachers of rural areas, training during class hours, mid-day meal scheme, lack of infrastructure and census work.
The sample selected for the study comprised of teachers, students, primary school heads and BEOs of Bangalore, Mysore, Belgaum and Gulbarga. The study was undertaken for the academic year 2008-2009 and was published last month. “If teachers don’t turn up at school, it will definitely have an impact on the quality of school education. Surveys can bring an impact only, if agencies take proper actions,” says M S Talwar, professor of Education, Bangalore University.
The study was undertaken by T Pradeep Kumar, a PhD student of Bangalore University. Pradeep had submitted the project in May this year. “I took more than three years to finish the study. Some of the revelations highlight problems of our education system,” says Pradeep.