The recommendation was drawn up following a review of several cases which highlighted the difficulties faced by school management in identifying and resolving such incidents. According to the Council, in some instances teachers did not receive timely protection, whilst administrative measures were taken, including against teachers who had reported the aggression.
What measures should educational institutions take?
The Ethics Council recommends that the management of schools and other educational institutions properly record incidents of violence, threats and serious verbal abuse relating to a teacher’s professional activities.
Every such incident should be reported immediately to the police, and the relevant higher authority and the Ministry of Education and Research should also be informed. Internal recording of the incident does not replace reporting it to the law enforcement authorities.
The affected teacher must be provided with access to legal assistance – through a trade union, higher-level authorities or the state-guaranteed legal aid scheme. It is also recommended that psychological support be provided by a school psychologist or by the services of the Republican Centre for Psychological and Pedagogical Assistance. The alleged perpetrator’s access to the educational establishment may be temporarily restricted in accordance with established regulations.
Proposals to protect teachers from pressure
A separate point in the recommendations concerns the prohibition of pressure being exerted on teachers who have reported incidents of aggression. According to the Council’s position, teachers must not be unreasonably punished, have their performance appraisals downgraded or have their teaching load altered as a result of filing a complaint. It is also unacceptable to coerce them into refraining from reporting the matter to the law enforcement authorities.
With the victim’s consent, the school’s management must inform the trade union, which can provide legal assistance, represent the teacher’s interests and monitor the progress of the case.
Managers who fail to report an assault to the police in a timely manner, take action against the victim or allow such violations to occur may face disciplinary sanctions.
The Ethics Council’s recommendation aims to ensure a consistent approach to responding to aggression against teachers and to prevent teachers from being left unprotected after seeking help.
This story was translated with the assistance of artificial intelligence.The translation was also reviewed by the Logos Press editorial team.
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