WOMEN teachers are being harassed by male students in secondary schools and there is no agreed policy to deal with this, the ASTI conference heard.
Ms Dolores Mullins from Drogheda said the sexual harassment took the form of personal remarks by the students.
The teachers were usually too embarrassed to go the school manager, feeling they would be laughed at or not taken seriously.
Last year, the ASTI had prepared a policy document on the issue together with the Teachers Union of Ireland and it had been passed to the two management bodies, the Joint Managerial Body and the Association of Community and Comprehensive Schools. So far, there had been no response.
She said students had to learn that such behaviour was unacceptable.
The lack of a policy meant it was not being taken seriously and she urged the union to put pressure on the management bodies to respond quickly.