Absenteeism

The following extract from the Educational Ordinance is relevant:

A parent of a child who is subject to compulsory school attendance, who without sufficient cause and after written warning by Secretary, fails to send their child to school regularly, is guilty of an offence in terms of both the national and the KZN Act. 

 

Schools have to keep daily attendance records, subject to the inspection of the Department’s officials.  Please send a note to school whenever your child has been absent (i.e. with the learner on his/her return to school.)  These notes should not be written in the learners’ homework diary.

 

Parents sometimes ask permission for their child to be excused for one reason or another. If you feel that the above is necessary, write to the Principal.  Educators are not authorised to grant permission for absence.

 

Family trips and holidays must be organised during school holiday time.  Learners miss out on tests and teaching which can cause gaps in their learning.  According to department regulations absent learners are not permitted time to write a ‘missed’ test or exam.

 

Learners are not to leave the school premises during school hours without the permission of the Deputy Principal or the Principal.  Learners, who have been given permission to leave the premises, must be collected at the reception area by parent or persons authorised (in writing) to do so.  When learners are collected earlier a register needs to be completed.

 

As far as possible, where doctor or dentist’s appointments are concerned, these should be made after school hours.  If this is not possible, it is up to the parent to weigh up the situation and contact the Principal of the school.