555 students from French-speaking schools were expelled for inappropriate behaviour towards teaching staff, figures presented by Caroline Désir, Minister of Education for the Wallonia-Brussels Federation (FWB), show. In the majority of cases, expulsions were due to students abusing teachers.
Physical and verbal abuse towards teaching staff is an issue across Belgium, as well as in other European countries. France was recently shocked by the murder of a teacher by her student at a Catholic school in the southwestern city of Saint-Jean-de-Luz.
According to Sudinfo, the Désir affirmed that a “mediation service” could be requested by schools in “the context of conflicts or tensions between pupils and teachers, or even with the family on school matters.”
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In the event of an attack on members of staff, the FWB can request priority psychosocial support for victims. Preventative support is also offered to help anticipate and prevent violent incidents.
In Flanders, some 20 pupils are suspended from school every day. In total, Flemish pupils were temporarily suspended from secondary or primary school 22,601 times. Temporary or permanent suspensions are often used as a last resort against misbehaving students.
