Almost 1,000 pupils in Northern Ireland schools have been suspended over the past three years for attacking staff, it emerged today.
However, only 14 pupils have been expelled over the past two years for assaults, according to figures released to Democratic Unionist deputy leader, Peter Robinson.
Statistics released by the Northern Ireland Office education minister Maria Eagle showed there were 949 suspensions in schools for violence between 2002 and 2005.
Between 2002 and 2003, there was a suspended pupil for every day of the year - 365. That figure fell to 320 in the academic year 2003-4 and 262 in 2004-5.
Democratic Unionist deputy leader, Peter Robinson
Last year, the Belfast Education and Library Board accounted for almost a third of all suspensions, with 84 pupils punished - up 11 on the previous year.
The Western Education and Library Board region had the most cases in 2002-3 with 99, but that figure has fallen steadily, halving last year to 49.
Mr Robinson expressed alarm at the number of pupils suspended but also amazement that only seven pupils had been expelled in the each of the past two years.
"There are clearly many physical attacks being carried out on school staff by pupils who are simply intent on being violent," the East Belfast MP said.
"Despite this high level of physical attacks by pupils upon school staff, I am bewildered that only seven pupils have been expelled for attacking staff in each of the last two years.
"When taken with the estimate by the Irish National Teachers Organisation that up to 50 teachers a year are leaving the profession in Northern Ireland because there are subjected to attacks, it is clear that the present approach to protecting school staff is not working."
Mr Robinson said given the figures related only to incidents where pupils had been suspended, it was possible the level of assaults could be much higher. School staff needed greater protection, he insisted.
"If teachers are being forced out of their careers, either temporarily while they convalesce or permanently because they have had enough of being the target of attacks, then more must be done," he argued.
"Ultimately, schoolchildren suffer, too, because of their unruly peers. "The education minister needs to re-examine the ability of schools to deal with violent pupils."
PA