Welsh Conservatives have blamed Assembly Government policies for a rising in the number of teachers taking time off sick.
Official figures show that two out of every three teachers took sickness absence last year, at an average of 13 days each.
Overall the total number of days sickness absence taken by teachers during 2007 was 244,700 – 17,200 more than in 2006
Shadow Education Minister Andrew Davies AM said: “These latest figures making worrying reading and suggest teachers are being placed under growing pressure to deal with Assembly Government targets and bureaucracy.
“Teacher absence disrupts children’s education, while experience shows that people who take time off sick often feel undervalued and de-motivated.
“It is a matter of concern that so many teachers are taking so many days off sick – and that the number keeps on rising.
“Insufficient funding, poor classroom discipline, bureaucracy and targets have contributed to this worrying trend.
“While it appears not to be in her nature to accept responsibility for anything, Jane Hutt must admit it’s the Assembly Government’s policies which have contributed to this.”