Vol. 497 No. 5
352 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to introduce guidelines for schools on the suspension and expulsion of students, including putting in place a set of steps which must be taken to ensure that the option of suspension or expulsion is always a last resort. [25678/98]
The managerial authorities of each school are responsible for ensuring that a fair and efficient code of behaviour, encompassing rules, a graded system of sanctions and procedures is drawn up and applied in the school. My Department has issued guidelines to assist schools in dis-charging their responsibilities in this area.
While the guidelines recognise that there is a need for sanctions, including temporary suspension, in order to register disapproval of unacceptable behaviour, they stress both the need for proportionality of response to incidents of misbehaviour and the use of serious sanctions such as suspension and expulsion only after all avenues of rehabilitation have been attempted and normal channels of communication between home and school have been utilised. In reaching decisions in individual cases, school authorities have to balance carefully the needs of individual students with their responsibility to the general body of their students. In the context of imposing sanctions, schools are advised that they should ensure that the rules of natural justice apply and pupils are advised of their right of appeal. In the suggested code of discipline which accompanied the guidelines, detailed procedures are set out which might be followed by schools in dealing with behavioural problems in school. At primary level no pupil shall be struck off the rolls for breaches of discipline without the prior consent of the patron and unless alternative arrangements are made for the enrolment of the pupil in another suitable school.
The report on discipline, commissioned by my Department and completed by Dr. Maeve Martin has been made available to every school. The report sets out models of best practice and is a very valuable resource for schools.
The Education (No. 2) Bill, which is currently before the Houses, provides for a statutory right of appeal against decisions of boards of management including decisions concerning suspension and expulsion. This right of appeal will greatly strengthen the capacity to balance all rights and obligations in this difficult area.
