Schools told: try restorative justice, not a suspension

SCHOOLS should consider approaches such as restorative justice instead of suspending students for bad behaviour, according to guidelines published yesterday.

They also advise schools not to suspend students for breaching uniform rules or having poor attendance.

The draft guidelines for developing school codes of behaviour will be finalised after public consultations over the coming months and sent to the country’s 4,000 primary and second- level schools in September. The 2000 Education (Welfare) Act requires the board of management of every school to prepare a code of behaviour.