EVALUATING QUALITY TEACHING AND LEARNING, PERCEIVED TEACHERS’ ABSENTEEISM IN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS

Abstract

Perceived teacher absenteeism, effective teaching and learning, and academic achievement in senior high schools is the topic under investigation. A questionnaire was employed to gather data because of the nature and goal of this investigation. The study’s sample consisted of teachers and students from the few senior high schools. The population of students in the schools is about 5000 of which 700 students sample was selected for the study. Out of teachers’ population of about 900 teachers, 300 teachers were selected for the study. The study revealed teacher absenteeism in selected senior high schools is as a result of several factors. According to the findings, illness and financial problems due to poor remuneration are among the major reasons for teacher absenteeism in selected senior high schools. Poor of supervision was also mentioned among the causes of teacher absenteeism in selected senior high schools. When head teachers are always busy attending meetings, workshops and other programs thereby not getting time to stay in the school to monitor teachers’ attendance and execution of duties, teachers take advantage of advantage of the situation and adopt a laissez faire attitude towards work because there is no control towards them. Also, the study revealed how teacher absenteeism affects quality teaching and learning. According to the findings, rampant absences of a teacher from his academic duties result in the inability to complete topics that ought to be completed and will also rush to catch up on lost time. The findings also revealed that teacher absences result in combining classes as another means to catch up on lost time. Students lack of interest to attend class was also indicated as a one the most harmful effects of teacher absenteeism. Cited among the effects of teacher absenteeism include; poor continuous assessment of students and poor performance of students in external examinations. Given its detrimental effects on both teaching and learning, teacher absenteeism has grown into a canker that needs to be eradicated from our educational system.