Shopping leave is granted once a month for teachers in remote schools, which do not have regular transportation to town.
Education Minister Filipe Bole said the Ministry fully understands the difficulties faced by teachers serving in very remote schools and it was for this reason that this special shopping leave is granted.
Bole said schools are classified as urban, semi urban, rural and remote, for example QVS and RKS are semi urban schools, because they are near Korovou.
He added remote schools are those without any regular transportation to town.
At present, shopping leave is granted under certain conditions.
Head teachers of remote rural schools are required to make an application to the Principal Education Officer, at the beginning of each year for permission to close their schools once a month on Fridays to enable teachers to go to town to do their shopping and other business.
Bole said the lost time has to be covered prior to taking leave either by taking classes on two Saturdays or other arrangements in consultation with the respective District's Education officer and management and parents should be made aware of this arrangement in advance.
Meanwhile, the provision for Shopping Leave is currently being reviewed, in light of the usage of ATM cards.
