TUI questions Govt’s commitment to tackling indiscipline

The Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) has questioned the Government's commitment to tackling indiscipline in Irish classrooms.

The union said today that the €2m allocated to addressing the matter in 2006 was "derisory" and is demanding that the figure be increased in tomorrow's Budget.

The TUI said the indiscipline problem was reaching epidemic proportions, with many teachers retiring early due to stress caused by abusive and intimidating pupils.

Declan Glynn, the union's assistant general secretary, said a new law was actually needed to establish a "right to discipline" for teachers.

"We're calling for a law that would affirm the authority of teachers and a law that would make it clear that teachers' authority is not borrowed from parents, that teachers have authority as professionals in their own right," he said.