EXCLUSION FIGURES FAIL TO SHOW TRUE DEPTH OF PROBLEM- FINNIE

Written by Ross Finnie on Tue 27th Jan 2009

EXCLUSION FIGURES FAIL TO SHOW TRUE DEPTH OF PROBLEM- FINNIE

Commenting on the release of official school figures West of Scotland Liberal Democrat MSP Ross Finnie said:

"Although I am pleased that exclusions from North Ayrshire schools have fallen, these figures should be taken with a pinch of salt. I fear that they do not show the true scale of the problem. Many suspensions and exclusions are logged as unauthorised absences or transfers.

"The schools ministers delight will be of little comfort to the teachers and pupils in North Ayrshire who have to cope with poor discipline, verbal abuse and violence in the classroom.

"I'd like a little less celebration and a little more concentration on improving behaviour in North Ayrshire's Schools. Schools should be havens of learning, not places were incidents of physical and verbal abuse is common place.

"Until the official figures reflect the true depth of school exclusion we will not be able to help the teachers and pupils who deal with this issue day to day."

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