Fórsa will soon launch a national survey for all members in its Education division to assess assaults, injuries, and workplace stress. The survey follows renewed media attention on the issue last week with figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by TG4, highlighting a sharp rise in incidents. 

The number of teachers and Special Needs Assistants (SNAs) taking leave due to assaults in schools has surged in recent years, with a 64% increase since 2022. TG4 revealed that 260 teachers and SNAs took leave following assaults in 2022, rising to 412 in 2023. Last year, the number remained high at 404, with the majority of cases involving primary school SNAs. The alarming trend was highlighted on a recent episode of TG4’s flagship current affairs programme 7 Lá. 

Fórsa’s head of education, Andy Pike said “This will be one of the largest ever studies into the extent of assaults, injuries, and stress-related problems in the school sector, as well as workplaces within the further and higher education sectors. The survey will ask members for their views on the frequency of assaults and injuries in the workplace and the adequacy of the supports provided by employers.” 

“The findings of the survey carried out by the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) last March were stark. It found that 58% of 440 teachers surveyed had been subjected to physical aggression, and the figure leapt up to 96% among those working in special schools. We have always known this was an issue for our Fórsa members working in schools, and now it is time to put some statistical weight behind it,” Andy explained. 

Noreen O'Mahony, chair of the Education division of Fórsa, welcomed the idea for the survey and pointed to long standing criticism voiced by people working in the school community of the current Leave of Absence following Assault Scheme, which offers extra leave for teachers and SNAs injured in assaults. 

Noreen pointed out, “It’s not fit for purpose and is restricted to a very limited understanding of how physical injuries manifest themselves.” 

She went on to explain, “Sometimes the true severity of an injury is not clear until much later. And it is not just physical. This is emotional labour. Many of our members talk about a strain that follows them home, keeping them awake at night with things play out in their head. Members have reported being unable to sleep. Many of our members are so accustomed to being burnt out that they just think it is normal. It is not.” 

She emphasised the impact of burnout in the sector, “Burnout in education hits when you are constantly drained, running on empty, and just can’t find the energy to care like you used to. It not only messes with your own head but spills out into relationships as well. Is it any wonder so many people are upping sticks from the sector to create new lives abroad?” 

The results of the survey will be published in advance of the Education divisional conference 2025 which takes place on the 24th and 25th of April in Galway. The survey form will be sent via an email link to over 18,000 members in the division, towards the end of next week.  

You can watch the episode of 7 Lá discussing the topic on the TG4 player here. The programme was also featured in an Irish Independent article which you can read here. 

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