A rise in the number of suspensions and expulsions among secondary schools is simply the figures returning to normal post-COVID levels, one assistant principal has said.
Data from Tusla shows expulsions from second-level schools climbed from 55 to 85 between 2020 and 2022.
However, the figures remained well below pre-pandemic norms.
Source: TuslaThe rate of suspensions in secondary schools was similar, with 5,269 suspensions in 2020-21 and 8,658 in 2021-22.
St Munchin's College Limerick Assistant Principal Eric Nelligan told The Pat Kenny Show figures are returning to normal.
"What we're seeing is suspensions and expulsions returning to pre-pandemic levels on a slow, gradual scale," he said.
"Lockdowns were a feature of life, unfortunately, during the COVID times so obviously if there was less students in school there would have been less incidences.
"The number of expulsions and suspensions would have dropped dramatically.
"What we're now seeing is a return, as school and life and everything is going back to normal over the past year and a half or so, so too are expulsions and suspensions.
"We're still significantly below pre-pandemic expulsions and suspensions."
'The nuclear option'
Mr Nelligan said some children are taking longer to settle back into a classroom setting.
"Lockdown had impacted certain children; being away from the stureutrue and the safe setting in the school didn't work quite so well for everybody," he said.
"So, what we're seeing now is children are coming back, some children may have a little bit of anxiety coming back to school.
"Some children may have gotten into bad habits while they were away from school and aren't keen on returning to the formal education setting.
"Ultimately, schools do need the nuclear option, or the option of last resort so to speak, of suspension/expulsion.
"It is needed within the school system, but thankfully we're not at the levels we used to be," he added.
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