Seven-year-olds suspended from NI schools

Northern Ireland pupils aged seven or under have been suspended from school for disruptive behaviour, it emerged today.

A total of 47 cases have been reported to the Department of Education and education minister Caitriona Ruane has admitted more needs to be done.

She said pupils should have a voice in schools after it emerged 5,577 pupils of all ages were temporarily barred for offences including heckling teachers, attacking fellow students, and substance misuse.

“I don’t condone any attacks on teachers and we need to move towards a system where our young people are not being suspended and are stimulated with a healthy environment so they feel safe and are enjoying their education,” she said.

“We need to create more democracy within our schools and that is why it is important that we have youth councils and anti-bullying schemes where people feel part of it.”

The tally of reprimands for the financial year ending March 2006 compares to 5,414 the previous year. There were 54 expelled, including two in p6 or p7.

Most cases involved boys in secondary schools. Some were sanctioned three times or more.

Other reasons for suspension included alcohol abuse, damage to property and 278 attacks on staff. Less than 2% of the total school population was involved.

The north eastern area, including much of Co Antrim, and the southern area, including Co Armagh, were worst affected.

Teaching unions complained of members running a gauntlet of physical and psychological abuse, threats and intimidation.

Ms Ruane added: “If there’s an increase in attacking on teachers we will be dealing with this. It isn’t acceptable that it happens but we still need more democracy in our schools and support for our teachers. They are dealing with problems existing in our society.”

There has also been concern about bullying in colleges with 339 cases last year, most by boys.

Democratic Unionist MLA and education committee member Mervyn Storey said he was shocked that children in p4 or younger were implicated.

“We have to ask, is it an issue of discipline, does it indicate that the structures in schools are not robust enough to be able to identify some of these problems at an early stage,” he said.

He added there were question marks over the statementing process of identifying children with special needs and claimed more resources could be devoted to provide extra services.