Minister of Basic Education, Mrs Angie Motsekga, promulgated the Policy on Learner Attendance in terms of section 3 of the National Education Policy Act, 1996 (NEPA ) on 07 February 2010 after public consultation and approval by the Council of Education Ministers (CEM). The purpose of the Policy is to promote punctual and regular attendance by learners at public schools and to provide public schools and PEDs with standard procedures for recording, managing and monitoring learner attendance. This was in response to the challenge of irregular attendance in schools for various reasons.
The DBE has, since then, introduced several intervention programmes aimed at mediating the causes of irregular attendance. Most of the programmes address causes linked to poverty through the implementation of no-fee schools and the provision of scholar transport and school nutrition in all no-fee public schools, including secondary schools. The relationship between the DBE and the Department of Health (DoH) has ensured the provision of health services to schools to address challenges of HIV/AIDS, chronic illnesses and physical challenges such as hearing and eye sight that bring about learning barriers and increase absenteeism in schools. Government as a whole has increased the child support grant which has impacted positively in improving attendance in schools.
The Policy on Learner Attendance ensures that daily records of leaner attendance are kept to enable schools to monitor leaner absence and take appropriate action with both the learner and the parents. Learner attendance records enable District Offices to track attendance trends in schools and to respond appropriately with relevant intervention programmes. Records of learner attendance may be required for legal purposes. It is therefore essential that schools keep and maintain such records accurately.
Mr James Ndlebe, Director for the Education Management and Governance Directorate, said that, “the DBE’s poverty alleviation programmes are bearing fruit as more than 90% of South African school children attend schools. Ndlebe added that learners are encouraged to attend school to receive a meal which may be the only meal of their day. Compared to other countries, South Africa has gone beyond reaching universal access targets due to the support programmes put in place”.
The Policy on Learner Attendance places the responsibility of regular attendance and punctuality on learners and their parents. Government relies on parents, School Governing Bodies (SGBs), School Management Teams (SMTs), teachers and PEDs to play their part in ensuring that leaners accept and act on this responsibility and to build a culture of regular attendance and punctuality.
Parents should ensure that learners attend school daily, on time and for the whole school day unless there is a valid reason for their absence. Parents should ensure that learners are not taken out of school unnecessary without valid reasons. Rules dealing with punctuality and regular attendance should be part of the learners’ code of conduct. Principals working with the SMTs and the SGBs are responsible for ensuring compliance to the Policy.