29 November - Absenteeism

I signed in dutifully this morning at 7.30am but on reporting to the academic tutor, was told, “No, no work today.”

You see marking has finished and now there is the long holiday upon us.

Officially we get only four weeks holiday a year, but that does not mean that tutors work for the remaining forty-eight weeks; far from it. I asked one of my colleagues why there are so many tutors away. It was explained that after two years, every teacher and tutor is entitled to apply for study leave, with pay. Unless he or she has shown some level of incompetence, study leave will almost certainly be granted. When these tutors and teachers have completed their study leave, with pay, many look for better paid work.

My job here is to support the improvement of classroom teaching, but, in fact, I will be used to fill the gaps left by tutors on study leave. I will also teach part of my week at the nearby secondary school, which has no dedicated English teacher, because she is on study leave. I am reminded – again – of what Philbert the other week, so aptly said,

“Before you wear socks, you must first have shoes.”

On a more positive note, Caroline spent an hour with Sr Cecilia this morning, who explained the need to have one member of staff fully trained and accredited as a Montessori assessor, in order that their dream to open a Montessori primary school be realised. Staff at the nursery, today, were not idle. They were preparing resources and materials ready for the start of next term.

Caroline went from there to the beach, on her own, to sunbathe. She lay on the beach, read her book and felt quite safe. Given the number of young men who patrol, trying to get the telephone number of wazungu women, this was more of an achievement than you might think.

The University is becoming something of a favourite of ours. It’s so cheap, wholesome, and the atmosphere is lively, with young people chatting. We met Father Mwange, completely by chance, again, this lunch-time. He was there in his capacity as student today. I noticed that his face, whilst rubbery, never actually stretches into a smile. I’ll have to introduce him to Francis.