Alarm over 64pc surge in teachers on sick leave as a result of assaults in schools

Irish Independent

23-04-2025

The stark revelation came as Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI) members overwhelmingly voted to conduct a detailed national survey to clarify the full extent of physical aggression in Irish schools - and the need for enhanced sick/assault leave, financial support programmes and counselling for teachers and special needs assistants impacted.
ASTI general secretary Kieran Christie warned that it was no longer acceptable for a teacher to have to display actual bruises to qualify for assault leave.
Teachers also called for a relaxing of the requirement to describe physical aggression as assault - with many teachers reluctant to describe incidents where youngsters unintentionally cause physical harm as 'assaults.'
ASTI members also backed a review of sick leave arrangements as one teacher, Julianne Butler of Limerick North ASTI, revealed she had to deliberately delay her family and time her pregnancies because of a medical condition and the limitations of her allowable sick leave.
Ms Butler suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum which causes acute nausea.
Sick leave entitlements are calculated on a rolling four year basis.
Despite having a serious pregnancy-related illness, she faced being put on half-pay.
Under the ordinary illness entitlement, a teacher is allowed 183 days of paid sick leave in a four year period including both full and half pay.
Other teachers highlighted how verbal assaults can cause severe trauma.
Geraldine O'Brien of Clare ASTI revealed one young female educator suffered a breakdown following a verbal assault and being required to engage with a parent by her principal.
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She warned what the young woman suffered was "horrendous" and left her inconsolable.
"She suffered a physical and mental breakdown as a result of this situation. One year later, she is somewhat recovered."
The union warned that those who suffer psychological trauma in the workplace need to be supported in the same manner as those who endure physical assaults and aggression.
One health and welfare study found that, over recent years, the number of teachers taking sick leave after physical assaults in Ireland had soared by 64pc.
It found the number of teachers taking sick leave after physical assaults had soared from 260 to 404.
The vast majority of incidents occurred in primary schools and involved 106 primary school teachers and 285 special needs assistants.
Ray Nolan of ASTI Drogheda branch said the survey on the true extent of physical assaults in school settings should be a matter of utmost priority.
He cited one person, Sophie Cole from Cork, who had to be hospitalised after a school assault.
Sophie - from Carrigaline - had her arm slammed down onto a steel-reinforced cable in 2022 and suffered permanent nerve damage.
She suffers from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) which has been described as the world's most painful condition.
Sophie now campaigns to raise awareness of teachers and special needs assistants who suffer assaults and physical aggression in the workplace.
The Cork educator warned that children are not to blame - but rather the entire system.
"I have taken a lot of kicks, headbutts and even been thrown across the room - but I always loved my job and loved helping the children," she said in a 2022 interview.
Mr Nolan warned that such stories are "heart-breaking" with major concern over the lack of support provided for such teachers.
The education sector now suffers from the second highest rate of workplace assaults and physical aggression in Ireland.
"There has been a significant number of teachers and SNAs having to take leave after these assaults," he added.
Natalie Doyle-Brady of Dublin ASTI said it was critical that preventative steps be taken to protect teachers from such acts of physical aggression.
"There are not enough supports in place," she warned.
Barry Hazel of ASTI Dublin queried whether any legal cases had been taken as a result of such incidents.
"It is only when money comes into play that things change. Have there been cases against schools?"
Mr Christie said the issue of workplace safety was of enormous importance to everyone involved in the education sector.
"One issue that the ASTI has been active and vocal on for many years is the safety, health and welfare of teachers and wider school communities alike," he said.
"Thankfully, while schools are generally great places to work, from time-to-time difficult situations can and do arise."
"It is infrequent but unfortunately, on rare occasions, teachers get assaulted in their school. As I say, it is a very small number of instances and a sad fact of life."
"The ASTI has been demanding that the Department of Education broaden the definition of assault in its circular letter for quite some time now."
"It is no longer acceptable that assault is so narrowly defined that you nearly have to have to show the bruises to qualify for assault leave."
"The concept of psychosocial injury hasn't yet arrived in the consciousness of the Department of Education. The psychological effects of an assault in the course of the teacher's duties and during approved school activities can be devastating. This must change."