The Strategy

Leadership Action (SGB, Principal & SMT)

Teacher Action (The Classroom)

1. The Mindset Shift

(Attendance is Care, Not Compliance)

Stop calling it "Absenteeism Management." Call it "Care Tracking." When a child knows their empty desk is noticed, they feel a sense of belonging.

Review the Policy: Does your Code of Conduct frame absence as a crime or a signal of distress? Change the language.

The "Care" Budget: Allocate a small budget (Data/SMS bundles) specifically for teachers to contact parents of absent learners.

The Morning Ritual: Don't tick the register silently. Call the name aloud. If there is silence, ask: "Does anyone know where Thabo is? We miss him

Signal that the class is incomplete without them.

2. The Early Warning System

(The "2-Day Rule")

Long-term disengagement starts with short, unexplained absences. Do not wait for the weekly report.

The Trigger: Mandate that any learner absent for two consecutive days appears on a "high priority" list.

The Support: HODs must check this list daily and support teachers who are struggling to reach parents.

The Script: Don't send a warning. Send a care message:

"Hi (Parent), we’ve missed (Learner Name) for two days. Is everything okay? How can we help them get back?"

Flip the script from "You are in trouble" to "You are vital."

3. The "Adult Champion" Audit

(Making the Invisible, Visible)

Every survivor of the dropout funnel points to one factor: One specific adult who believed in them.

The Audit: Once a term, print a list of "High Risk" learners and put it on the staffroom wall.

The Gap Analysis: Ask staff to initial names they have a connection with. Focus on the names with no initials. These are your most vulnerable learners.

The Assignment: Volunteer to be the "Champion" for one of the invisible learners.

The Task: Your only job is to greet them by name every morning, ask "How are you?" and listen. Be their anchor.

4. Re-Entry Interviews

(The "Soft Landing")

The biggest barrier to returning after an absence is Shame. We must lower the barrier to return.

Return Policy Review: Ensure school rules prioritise reintegration over punishment. Review any policies that might lock learners out (e.g., locking gates for latecomers) or punish them immediately upon return (e.g., immediate detention).

Goal: Prioritise access over compliance during the first week back.

The Welcome: Adopt a "Connect before Correct" approach. When a learner returns, avoid public confrontation.

The Action: Acknowledge their return positively. Focus on reintegrating them into the class environment first, and address administrative or academic catch-up later.