Róisín Shortall
Question:280 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science the average number of students who are on suspension on any one day in schools; and the steps he is taking to deal with this problem. [19038/00]
Written Answers. - School Discipline.
As matters stand there are no formalised reporting arrangements covering suspensions and this makes it difficult to estimate the full extent of the problem with any precision.
School managerial authorities are responsible for ensuring that a fair and efficient code of behaviour, encompassing rules and procedures, is drawn up and applied in schools. Circumstances vary from one school community to another, and therefore it would not be appropriate for me to set out a formal and detailed code of behaviour for all schools. However, my Department has issued guidelines to assist schools in discharging their responsibilities in this area. The guidelines outline the general principles to be followed in drawing up and implementing a code of behaviour in schools and which stress the need to regard both suspension and expulsion as sanctions of last resort.
The Education (Welfare) Bill, 1999, currently before the Houses will, when enacted, require schools for the first time to prepare codes of behaviour which specify the types of behaviour requiring disciplinary measures, the nature of these measures and the procedures to be followed by school authorities. The code is to be prepared in accordance with guidelines which may be issued by the National Education Welfare Board that is to be established under the provisions of the Bill. The focus of the national authority will be the provision of assistance and support, through locally based educational welfare officers, to schools and families. The Bill also includes specific measures for the early identification and support of children at risk of dropping out of the school system.
The enactment of the Bill together with the implementation of the Education Act, 1998, will introduce a new legislative framework for dealing with school discipline issues generally and provide an opportunity to update existing guidelines where necessary.