Employers’ organizations have long warned that one of the main problems of the lack of competitiveness of the Spanish economy is the high level of work absenteeism. Pimec published a report last January focused on Catalonia that pointed out that sick leaves had a cost of 10% of GDP, which amounts to about 33.34 billion euros annually. In fact, Catalonia is the third European territory with the most absenteeism after Norway and Slovakia, despite the high existing unemployment rate.
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Well, today, May First, International Workers’ Day, does not seem to be the most appropriate day to make this reflection and it should be said that this problem does not only concern the labor world, but it is an issue that affects society as a whole. Today in the Society section we highlight an interesting and brave open letter from the dean of the Faculty of Political and Social Sciences of the Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) in which he addresses first and second-year students about their absenteeism and lack of interest in continuing in the classes where they are enrolled.
It is not news. Anyone who has had the opportunity to work as a teacher or participate in some debate or conference in the university field may have had negative experiences with students who have shown lack of attention, passive attitude, or minimal involvement.
The reality is that attending university is a luxury and a privilege. There will be time to think about the difficulties that professional life entails later. What matters is to make the most of the opportunity that learning offers. Some believe that the student should not be solely blamed and that teachers should be more creative in performing their role. Everything is debatable, but attendance in class should be mandatory. And it is not just that. It also affects exam preparation and the writing of assignments, where the law of minimum effort ends up prevailing.
Our students are the product of the society we have built. And that is why there is little involvement also in work and other activities. An absentee society where fleeting and passing pleasure can replace full fulfillment.
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