Teacher harassment and bullying
Thursday, 20 November 2008
THERE were over 500 pupil suspensions for verbal abuse and physical assaults on teachers within the Northern Education and Library Board (NEELB) area in 2006/07, it has emerged.
Government figures released recently show that out of a total of 583 pupil suspensions 391 were at Controlled schools, 125 Catholic Maintained schools and 67 other.
In relation to the previous year, 2005/06, there were 561 pupil suspensions, of which 408 were at Controlled schools, 99 Catholic Maintained schools and 54 other.
The statistics, supplied by the NEELB and Council for Catholic Maintained Schools, were revealed by Education Minister Caitríona Ruane in response to a request for the information from North Antrim MLA Mervyn Storey.
The NEELB had the highest number of pupil suspensions for 2006/07 with 583 followed by the Belfast Education and Library Board (BELB) with 496, the Western Education and Library Board (WELB) with 464, the Southern Education and Library Board (SELB) with 361 and the South Eastern Education and Library Board (SEELB) with 224.
The Minister said: "The numbers of expulsions are relatively small and are not disaggregated between education and library boards because of the risk that a school/pupil may be identifiable. In 2005/06 and 2006/07 there were 8 and 14 instances respectively of expulsion relating to physical assaults on teaching staff.
“The suspension and expulsions statistics for 2007/08 school year are currently being analysed by the Department and will be placed on the DE website when this has been completed."
Additional information was also revealed in relation to the number of incidents of bullying and harassment of teachers and school staff by other staff. In 2007/08 there were three incidents within the NEELB, compared to three in 2006/05 and five in 2005/06.
Meanwhile, Mr Storey asked the Education Minister "what processes are in place to help teachers and school staff who have been victims of harassment and bullying?"
The Minister said: "The education and library boards and the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools have indicated that all staff, both teaching and non-teaching, have access to their respective Bullying and Harassment Policies which have been agreed with the trade unions.
“The respective policies provide a procedure to report, investigate and resolve complaints. Mediation is available either within the operation of the policy or as an alternative to it.
“All staff both teaching and non-teaching also have access to a welfare service and a confidential counselling service at any time. The availability of the counselling service is emphasised to staff when a complaint of bullying or harassment is received. However, the service is self referring and completely confidential so the decision whether or not to avail of counselling is up to the member of staff," she concluded.
