Hanafin moves to tackle school discipline problems

STUDENTS who carry dangerous weapons make threats and sexual remarks to teachers or assault classmates could have some of their legal rights cut back as a result of measures being announced today.

A review of legal entitlements available to disruptive students is expected to be featured in the package being announced by Education Minister Mary Hanafin to tackle school discipline problems.

She will also publish the long-awaited report of the Task Force on Student Behaviour in Second-Level Schools, the result of a year's work assessing the extent of the problems. The report details international practice dealing with bad behaviour and recommends measures to address the worsening situation.