Written answers

Thursday, 22 March 2007

Department of Education and Science

Bullying in Schools

5:00 pm

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 34: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on a recent survey by the INTO that indicates that bullying is very prevalent in schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10716/07]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Firstly, I would like to assure the Deputy that I am concerned to learn about the outcome of the recent survey by the INTO on the issue of bullying of teachers at primary level. Under the provisions of the Education Act 1998 and the regulations of my Department, the board of management is the body charged with the direct governance of a school.

Section 24(3) of the Education Act 1998 states that "A board shall appoint teachers and other staff, who are to be paid from monies provided by the Oireachtas, and may suspend or dismiss such teachers and staff, in accordance with procedures agreed from time to time between the Minister, the patron, recognised school management organisations and any recognised trade union and staff association representing teachers or other staff as appropriate".

The Board of Management has the responsibility to ensure that the school operates efficiently and effectively and also has responsibilities in relation to the actions of its employees in the context of the regulations outlined above. Therefore, the Board as manager of the school must manage the staff in the school and intervene when it considers necessary to resolve matters relating to the actions of its employees. The Board of Management is the employer and has similar powers to any other employer. My Department is not the employer and does not have an employer/employee relationship with the teachers in a school.

On a broader level, I understand that the Teaching Council is drafting Codes of Professional Conduct which set out the core values and standards of professional practice which underpin the teaching profession in Ireland. The Codes will shortly be published and will form the basis on which the Council will operate in the future. Teachers registering with the Council will be expected to uphold the standards of professional practice and conduct outlined in the Codes.

The Deputy will be aware that my Department has recently launched an employee assistance service for teachers. This service can be contacted by phone at 1800 411057 or email: eas@vhics.ie.

In relation to the general issue of bullying in schools, each school is required to have in place a policy which includes specific measures to deal with bullying behaviour, within the framework of an overall school Code of Behaviour and Discipline. Such a code, developed through consultation with the whole school community and properly implemented, can be the most influential measure in countering bullying behaviour in schools.

My Department has issued guidelines as an aid to schools in devising measures to prevent and deal with instances of bullying behaviour and to increase awareness among school management authorities of their responsibilities in this regard. These guidelines were drawn up following consultation with representatives of school management, teachers and parents, and are sufficiently flexible to allow each school authority to adapt them to suit the particular needs of their school. I have also stressed to the teacher unions the importance of not just having a written policy on bullying but also ensuring a climate in which it is not tolerated in any form and in which children know that if they make a teacher aware of bullying that it will be dealt with. The education of students in both primary and post-primary schools in relation to anti-bullying behaviour is part of the SPHE curriculum. SPHE is now a compulsory subject at both primary level and in the junior cycle of post-primary schools.

The National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) is at present developing further guidelines for schools on Codes of Behaviour, as provided for under section 23 of the Education (Welfare) Act 2000. Work on the guidelines is at an advanced stage and will be informed by broad consultation. It is envisaged that implementation will commence in the next school year. Once the NEWB Guidelines are in place, my Department will, through the normal consultation process with the education partners, ensure that the guidelines available to schools on countering bullying are revised to fully reflect the work done by the NEWB.

Through the combined work of my Department, the Teaching Council, the NEWB and the education partners, it is intended to provide extensive guidance to enable schools to fulfil their responsibilities in relation to this issue.

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