PAT PRESS RELEASE: 30/05/02

PAT COMMENTS ON TEACHER SICKNESS LEVELS

The Professional Association of Teachers (PAT) has commented on the latest DfES statistics on levels of Teacher Sickness Absence [http://www.dfes.gov.uk/statistics/DB/SFR/s0335/index.html].

PAT General Secretary Jean Gemmell said: "These figures are not reallysurprising. As the number of teacher vacancies rises, the workload andstress levels on those teachers left in the profession increase.

"The Government must address the reasons for high levels of teacher sickness- such as stress, workload and poor working conditions - rather than merelysetting targets to reduce levels of absence, implying that teachers are notgenuinely sick.

"Teachers who are unwell cannot realistically undertake 'light' duties.They have to perform at 100 per cent or not at all - they back-pedal infront of a class at their peril.

"Teachers who have been on long-term sick leave often have to recuperatefully before returning to work, as phased readmission doesn't exist inteachers' contracts, although it is arranged by some enlightened employers.

"Schools should be encouraged and supported to develop their own appropriatestrategies for managing stress at work. LEA occupational health provision,aimed at stress and illness prevention, would be a key part of that support.

"However, teachers are not, on average, taking many days off sick, and wemust remember that, because they work with large numbers of children inconfined spaces, teachers are at greater risk of catching illnesses such ascolds and flu.

"One area in particular that should be addressed, however, is voice loss,which is a serious problem PAT has highlighted. While repetitive straininjury is recognised as a serious workplace problem, voice strain is not.

"Many teachers have to struggle to be heard in overcrowded, poorlyventilated, dusty and noisy classrooms. Stress exacerbates the problem.Continued voice strain can lead to serious damage to the vocal system, yetmost teachers who report voice problems aren't taken seriously.Unfortunately, voice loss has ended the career of some teachers.

"A teacher with voice loss faces the same career prospects as a musicianwith hearing problems, a lorry driver with impaired vision or a surgeon withdamaged hands. Despite this, there is no requirement for student or servingteachers to receive voice training. Employers are required to look afteremployees' welfare, yet few seem aware of a problem which affects teachersand, consequently, pupils' education.'

"PAT is calling for voice injury to be recognised as a serious problem andfor measures to help teachers to be introduced, including training forstudent and serving teachers in voice care and voice production anddelivery techniques, improved school facilities - including amplificationequipment if necessary - better designed and ventilated classrooms, andsmaller classes.

"Voice training and improved facilities would reduce teachers' time off,save on disruption and sick pay and improve teachers' communication withpupils."

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Contacts: Communications Officer Richard Fraser or General Secretary Jean Gemmell on 01332 372337, or e-mail pressoffice@pat.org.uk.