In 2022, there were 41 cases by students and 11 cases by ‘outsiders’, such as parents or relatives. A year later, in 2023, there were 57 students and 21 outsiders. These cases of aggression resulted in temporary disability for 62 employees in 2023, which is 22 more than the forty cases from 2022.
Last year, the educational services registered no fewer than five files with incapacity for work of more than a hundred days, which indicates very serious facts. “Fortunately, this is only a small group of the entire teaching force, but the increase is worrying. Moreover, these figures only relate to forms of aggression that lead to an industrial accident,” Grosemans clarifies.
“Not only is the number of physical injuries increasing, but also the emotional damage should not be underestimated,” says the Flemish Member of Parliament. “It’s time we put a stop to this and treat educational staff like other authority figures. So we must move towards more resolute repression. Any form of aggression must lead to exclusion.”