Responding to Workplace Absenteeism in Tanzania: The case study of Public and Private Schools in Ilala Municipality and Mkuranga District

Resumen

Abstract

Workplace absenteeism has widelybeen reported to be a serious problem which undermines smooth service delivery both in developed and developing nations.The problem is reported to be more serious in developing nation. This paper is therefore studyingthe mechanisms used to mitigate workplace absenteeism, their adequacy and the effective utilization of those mechanismsin public and private schools in Ilala Municipality and Mkuranga District in Tanzania. The study relied on in-depth interviews and documentary review to collect data which was analyzed using excel, content and thematic analysis. This study found numerous measureswhich have been put in placeto deal with teachers’ workplace absenteeism both in private and public schools.However, the study found that unlike in private schools, the measures are not seriously executed in public schools. The study recommends that the management of private schools should retain their strictness in dealing with teacher absenteeism. Also, the government should learn the private schools model of dealing with teachers’ absenteeism. Hence it should ensure effective utilization of available measures, improve teacher working environment, promotion and paying salary arrears on time. Again heads of schools should stop covering absenteeism behavior of their subordinates.Furthermore public secondary school management structure should be re- organized to introduce field of supervision at a division level.