Teachers afraid to expel students

SCHOOLS are afraid to expel disruptive students because they fear they will be re-instated on appeal, according to vocational teachers.

The Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) said the balance of power had swung to the student, who now has the right to appeal to the board of management and to the Children's Ombudsman.

With one in two appeals brought under the 1998 Education Act succeeding, schools were fearful of expelling students and then having their disciplinary structure undermined.