Hundreds of assaults on teachers revealed

Teachers want immediate action to make schools safer places after it was revealed hundreds of them have received ACC-funded treatment after being assaulted at school.

The revelation came in information released to the Dominion Post newspaper under the Official Information Act, which showed that 442 teachers needed ACC-funded treatment costing more than $400,000 after assaults at school during 2008 and 2009.

Education Ministry figures showed there were a further 335 pupil assaults on teachers in 2008 that did not require ACC-funded treatment.

The most expensive individual claim was for a 2008 assault, worth about $124,000. ACC refused to provide details about the incident.

Secondary Principals Association president Peter Gall said there was anecdotal evidence of more fights between pupils involving weapons. It had reached the stage where teachers now had to consider their own safety before stepping in to break up fights.

Education Minister Anne Tolley said assaults of any kind on teachers were "completely unacceptable".

She hoped a $45 million Education Ministry-led project would help deal with behavioural problems in schools.

The Post Primary Teachers Association, a union representing about 18,000 teachers and principals, described the issue as serious.

Spokeswoman Jill Gray said that unless classrooms were made safer, teachers would leave the profession.

"It is a serious issue and I can't see the problem going away, but there are no easy answers," she said.

In total, teachers made 9567 ACC claims during 2008 and 2009, totalling about $6.7 million. There are 93,000 registered teachers. Most of the claims were a result of lifting objects and straining muscles.

- NZPA