More than 12,600 primary- and second-level students were suspended from just over 700 schools last year, while 98 pupils were expelled, new figures released by the National Educational Welfare Board (NEWB) have revealed.
The majority of both suspensions and expulsions, data for which has been compiled for the first time this year, were at post-primary level, according to an analysis of school attendance for 2004/2005 by the board. But two primary schools reported that between them 87 students had been suspended last year.
Minister for Education Mary Hanafin last night said the high number of suspensions was of "particular concern". She said the small number of schools with a high level of suspensions would benefit from the support of behaviour support teams. These are due to work with schools from next term.
The figures also reveal that:
The average primary-school student missed 11 school days, while the average second-level student missed 14 days of school last year.
Urban primary students missed more school days than their rural counterparts. Vocational second-level schools also had higher absenteeism rates than other secondary schools.
Among severely disadvantaged primary schools, one in five students missed 20 days or more. One in three students in disadvantaged second-level schools missed 20 or more school days.
Almost one in seven urban primary students missed 20 days or more of school, compared to almost one in 13 rural students.
Overall, one in 10 primary school students - or some 47,000 students - missed 20 or more school days, while almost one in five secondary school students missed 20 days or more.
At a time when teachers are increasingly concerned about the growing discipline crisis in schools, the report shows that 479 secondary schools, out of the 557 who provided figures, suspended 11,746 students last year. Almost one-third (3,677) occurred in the Leinster South region, 2,050 in the Leinster North region, and 2,671 in Munster.
At primary level, the report reveals that 239 primary schools, out of 2,641 who provided valid data, suspended 908 students.Five primary students were expelled - four in the Leinster region and one in the West/North West region.
The data also shows that disadvantaged primary school students last year missed an average of 15 school days, compared to 10 days for those from better-off schools. At second-level, students in the most disadvantaged areas missed an average of 21 days per year, compared to 10 days by students in well-off schools.
In total, 84,000 children under the age of 16 missed more than 20 days of school last year.
Eddie Ward, of the NEWB, said attendance levels were a cause for "major concern," despite the fact that in a number of targeted disadvantaged areas, the average number of students missing 20 days or more had improved by some 4 per cent.