320 teachers 'off sick each day'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7473907.stm

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Teachers in Northern Ireland took 58,107 sick days last year, averaging more than 320 teachers off each day.

The figures were revealed in an assembly written answer by Education Minister Caitriona Ruane to the DUP's Michelle McIlveen.

Ms McIlveen, a member of the assembly's education committee, said the figures were "astonishing".

The Department of Education said it was working closely with the employing authorities to reduce sickness levels.

Ms McIlveen said: "We are seeing a complete lack of direction from the department and this adds to the stress under which teachers have to work.

"Absences cause problems for both schools and pupils and we have the additional cost of supply teachers which comes out of the education budget."

Frank Bunting, northern secretary of the Irish National Teachers' Organisation, told the Belfast Telegraph the profession was facing a crisis.

"The quality of teaching and learning is extraordinary against a backdrop where teachers face interference, initiatives and ridiculous levels of bureaucracy - all in the name of accountability, allegedly.

"The miracle is that, day after day, teachers continue teaching and that sickness and absenteeism levels are not very much higher than they are," he said.

However, a Department of Education spokesman said: "The employing authorities have recently extended the provision of counselling services to all teachers via a 24-hour telephone helpline.

"The management side and teacher side of the Teacher Negotiating Committee have recently agreed a revised Management Attendance Procedure that has been issued to all schools."