"having (the) chance"

[UnquietDad]

Our school headteacher has included the phrase "have chance to" in her letter.

That just makes me want to screw the letter up into a ball and hurl it against the wall, while grinding my teeth.

It's not "have chance". It's "have time", but "have the chance." I've heard several people say this (mainly here Oop North).

I don't know why it's wrong, but it is - something to do with different kinds of nouns?

[UnquietDad]

I'd have thought it was just a typo if I'd not heard this odd mistake before.

[tearinghairout]

I work in a highly regarded secondary school and see horrendous English a-plenty, on notice boards etc. But you can't go round correcting Headteachers, can you? (Or are you going to, UQD? You tell 'em)