Five primary school students and 93 pupils at second level were expelled in the last school year, according to figures published today.
The figures were unveiled by the National Education Welfare Board (NEWB) for the school year that ended last summer. They show that 908 students were suspended in 239 primary schools in the year and that 479 secondary schools suspended 11,746 students during the same period.
Ten of these post-primary schools suspended more than 100 students each during that school year.
The NEWB report also shows of that students from disadvantaged areas miss school more often.
Primary school students in the most disadvantaged areas missed on average of 15 school days in the school year compared to an average of 10 school days missed by primary school students in the least disadvantaged areas.
Post-primary school students in the most disadvantaged areas missed on average 21 days in the 2004/2005 year, compared to an average of 10 school days missed by students in the least disadvantaged areas.
Since 2000, schools are obliged by law to submit a report to NEWB on levels of school attendance.
NEWB chief Eddie Ward said levels of nonattendance were "a major cause for concern. . . . 84,000 children under the age of 16 miss more than 20 days each year.
"Critically, young children in poorer urban areas are experiencing multiple disadvantages which are having a negative effect on their school attendance and educational achievements," he said.
