A board of school directors may grant a leave of absence to a professional employe for the purpose of acquiring practical work experience in business, industry or government in accordance with the conditions and provisions set forth in section 1166.1 of this act. Persons on classroom occupational exchange shall be considered in full-time daily attendance in the position from which the leave was granted, during the period of said leave, for the payment of compensation by the school district and for the purpose of determining the employe's length of service, the right to receive increments as provided by law and the right to make contributions as a member of the Public School Employees' Retirement Fund and continue membership therein. The business, industry or government to whom the employe is assigned during the period of the classroom occupational exchange shall fully compensate the employe's school employer for all salary, wages, pension and retirement contributions and other benefits as if the school employe were in full time active service.