The Ulster Teachers Union (UTU) says the profession is being “bled dry”.
Teachers in Northern Ireland schools are missing an average of almost 10 days a year due to illness, the new figures reveal. In secondary schools alone, the average was 10.2 days.
Overall, teacher sick leave is at its highest level in five years, which is also driving up sub teacher costs. A total of £73.6 million was spent last year.
The average number of days lost per teacher due to sickness in all schools was 9.5. This represents an increase of 1.3 days from the previous year.
UTU general secretary Avril Hall Callaghan says sick-leave is up, the pupil-teacher ratio is up, teacher substitution costs are up and the workforce is ageing.
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