Education Minister Paul Givan has outlined various support measures for teachers experiencing challenging conditions in the classroom, particularly due to disruptive pupil behaviour. His remarks followed a question raised by Jon Burrows, a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) representing the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), regarding the availability of external support for substitute teachers facing difficulties in their work environments.
The issue came to light after Nicola Stevenson, Principal of Laurelhill Community College in Lisburn, reported that some female teachers at her school had been affected to the point of needing to leave work early. In an email addressed to parents, Stevenson highlighted that the negative behaviour of certain pupils had led to several substitute teachers declining to accept assignments at the school, and that the distress experienced by the female staff was significant.
In response to Burrows’ inquiry, Givan clarified that the Department of Education does not employ substitute teachers directly. Instead, he indicated that the Education Authority (EA) was tasked with providing relevant support details.
According to Givan, the EA has confirmed that all staff, including both temporary and permanent employees, have access to the EA’s HealthWell Hub. This digital resource offers a wide array of initiatives focused on health and wellbeing. Teachers can utilize the Employee Assistance Program, known as Lena (provided by Inspire), which includes various mental health and wellbeing interventions.
Principals are encouraged to reach out to the EA’s Health and Wellbeing Service through their Helpdesk for tailored support regarding health and wellbeing strategies and training. Givan emphasized that the HealthWell Hub is fully accessible to substitute teachers, ensuring that they too can benefit from these resources.
This initiative aims to address the pressing concerns surrounding teacher wellbeing in the face of difficult working conditions, underscoring the commitment to support educators throughout the region.
As the situation develops, stakeholders in education continue to monitor the effectiveness of these support measures and their impact on teaching environments across schools.
