18/03/2004
Disruptive pupils causing havoc in schools
The Belfast Education and Library Board today (BELB) launched a wide-ranging review into services to help young people with behavioural difficulties.
It follows a report by the BELB which revealed that up to 30,000 students were found to be disruptive in class in Northern Ireland. These range from distracting others to more serious cases of aggression and violence.
The cost of dealing with bad behaviour currently stands at £33m a year with 2,000 children involved in physical and verbal attacks in the past year.
Launching the report entitled 'Behaviour in a Learning City', David Cargo, chief executive of the Belfast Education and Library Board, said: “This report is a genuine attempt to apply the best principles of public service review, by engaging a wide range of people including young people in assessing the problem and listening to their views.
“Twelve months ago when we embarked on this process, we like every one else, knew there was a problem but we were unsure of its extent.
"It is clear that negative behaviour in and out of schools is not only restricting educational attainment but also affecting the wider community."
The 'Behaviour in a Learning City' report lists over 200 recommendations to be implemented as part of a five-year plan to address the behaviour patterns amongst pupils in Belfast schools. The report is the result of consultation and review work carried out by a multi-agency steering group over the past year.
(MB)
It follows a report by the BELB which revealed that up to 30,000 students were found to be disruptive in class in Northern Ireland. These range from distracting others to more serious cases of aggression and violence.
The cost of dealing with bad behaviour currently stands at £33m a year with 2,000 children involved in physical and verbal attacks in the past year.
Launching the report entitled 'Behaviour in a Learning City', David Cargo, chief executive of the Belfast Education and Library Board, said: “This report is a genuine attempt to apply the best principles of public service review, by engaging a wide range of people including young people in assessing the problem and listening to their views.
“Twelve months ago when we embarked on this process, we like every one else, knew there was a problem but we were unsure of its extent.
"It is clear that negative behaviour in and out of schools is not only restricting educational attainment but also affecting the wider community."
The 'Behaviour in a Learning City' report lists over 200 recommendations to be implemented as part of a five-year plan to address the behaviour patterns amongst pupils in Belfast schools. The report is the result of consultation and review work carried out by a multi-agency steering group over the past year.
(MB)
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