Chronicle EditorMthabisi Tshuma, Chronicle Correspondent
THE Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education says schools now have daily teacher attendance registers amid reports that a number of teachers are not reporting for work daily.
Examination writing classes are required to attend school daily as Government moves to catch up on lost time due to the closure of schools for the better part of the first term.
The examination writing classes which are Grade 7, Form Four and Six opened on March 15 while non-examination writing classes opened a week later on March 22.
According to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Term One ends on June 4 with the Second Term commencing on June 28 and ending on September 10.
The Third Term will start on October 4 and end on December 17.
Government has said all teachers are supposed to report for work daily but a number of teachers are only reporting for duty three days a week instead of five hence the introduction of the attendance register.
Government has warned that disciplinary action will be taken against the defiant teachers.
Many parents yesterday called on the Education Minstry to urgently address the confusion regarding the teachers attendance as it did not make sense to continue sending their children to school on the days there are no teachers.
In an interview yesterday, director of communications and advocacy in the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, Mr Taungana Ndoro said the ministry was monitoring teachers’ attendance with a view to take disciplinary action against defiant teachers.
“We are checking on the absenteeism of teachers hence the attendance registers which school authorities should complete daily. Teachers must attend school daily as there is no Government directive to the contrary,” said Mr Ndoro. — @mthabisi_mthire
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