The Effects of Lecturer Absenteeism on Learners Academic Performance in Community Learning Centres in the Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality

Abstract

Absenteeism of lecturers stands out as one of the key problems that adversely affect the performance of the adult education system, which is the case mostly in poorly funded areas such as Community Learning Centres (CLCs) in South Africa. These centres, operating under the Adult and Community Education and Training (ACET) framework, serve as the first point of contact for adult learners and out-of-school youth, particularly those who are not in education, employment, or training, and who are seeking meaningful second-chance learning opportunities. Such a chance would give them the power, the ability to get a job, and to be socially included. The study through such methods as interviews with managers, lecturers, and learners, investigates the effects of lecturer absenteeism on academic performance and engagement of learners in CLCs located within the Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality. Thematic analysis of the interviews discovered major effects of absenteeism on educational progression, learner morale, and dropout rates, class chaos, irregularity in educational delivery, increased workload, and stress of both learners and lecturers. The results indicate that absenteeism not only disrupts the continuity of the curriculum but also destroys learners' trust, deepens educational disparities, and lowers institutional credibility. The research also shows that adult learners who combine education with work and take care of their families are the most affected ones by the irregular teaching presence. These findings emphasize the necessity of immediate interventions at the systemic level such as better monitoring, substitute teaching, and the use of digital learning to solve the problem of lecturer absenteeism. This is a proper first step toward sustaining learner motivation, improving academic outcomes, and contributing to the realization of South Africa's bigger dreams of equity, empowerment, and lifelong learning.