§ Mr. Gregory CampbellTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the rate of sickness absence was (excluding maternity leave) of female teachers in publicly funded schools in Northern Ireland in the academic year September 2001 to August 2002; and how many teachers in publicly funded schools in Northern Ireland were dismissed for absenteeism in the academic year September 2001 to August 2002. [117927]
§ Jane KennedyInformation in relation to teachers employed in voluntary grammar schools is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
In February 2002, there were 12,624 female teachers employed in grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland other than in voluntary grammar schools. Of these, 8,183 were absent for reasons of sickness for a total of 122,090 days. This is equivalent to 9.7 days per female teacher employed.
Chief Executives of the five education and library boards and the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools have advised that no teachers in grant-aided schools in Northern Ireland (excluding voluntary grammar schools) were dismissed for absenteeism in the 2001–02 academic year.