Written Answers. - Health and Safety of Teachers.
Brendan Howlin
Question:
71
Mr. Howlin
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
the measures, if any, he proposes to take to eliminate the harassment, vilification and victimisation of teachers both within and outside schools (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[11088/98]
I am very concerned at recent reports of harassment, vilification, victimisation and other threats to the health and safety of teachers. Teachers like other employees are entitled to feel safe and be protected from all forms of bullying and intimidation in their working environment.
Under the health and safety legislation, school managerial authorities in their role as employers are responsible for ensuring the safety and health of their employees. This duty requires the drawing up a safety statement for the school in consultation with those at risk. The statement should identify potential hazards and assess the risks to health and safety.
Harassment and other similar behaviours should be considered as potential hazards and assessed accordingly. Where there is a risk to health and safety from these forms of behaviour, school based measures should be devised to prevent and deal with them and create an awareness within the school that they are unacceptable.
Harassment and intimidation outside of school is a civil matter and should be brought to the attention of the relevant authorities.
The issues raised may fall to be dealt with under the school code of discipline. My Department has issued guidelines to assist schools in discharging their responsibilities in this difficult area. School managerial authorities are advised to draw up and apply a fair and efficient code of behaviour, encompassing rules, sanctions and procedures in the school. Such a code is unique to each school as it reflects a whole host of factors associated with the community which it serves.
My Department is at present finalising, in consultation with teacher unions and management bodies, a circular on the issue of violence against teachers. The proposed circular will draw the attention of school management authorities to the following issues: the duty of school management authorities to provide a safe environment for employees and other persons present in the school; measures to be taken to prevent or minimise the risk of assaults to teachers and other staff employed in schools; and measures to be taken in support of staff who have been assaulted or threatened with assault and ensuring that appropriate action is taken to safeguard against a recurrence. I expect that this circular will issue shortly.
I remain open to further submissions from teachers on the issues raised by the Deputy and if there is a need to address the issues further in the form of guidance to school management, I will do so in consultation with the partners and the Health and Safety Authority, the body with national responsibility for health and safety matters.
