The Nova Scotia Teachers Union and the Nova Scotia School Board Council of Unions, which represents school support staff, are alarmed by the high number of violent incidents in schools. According to data from the Education Department, there were 27,108 recorded cases of physical violence in the 2024-25 school year, up from 21,398 incidents the year before. The issue was brought to light in 2022-23 when the province’s auditor general warned about the increasing violence in schools.
Peter Day, president of the NSTU, acknowledges some positive steps taken by the province but believes more serious action is needed. He mentioned instances where teachers had to wear protective gear like Kevlar sleeves due to student aggression. Nelson Scott, chair of the Nova Scotia School Board Council of Unions, highlighted that 75% of members have raised concerns about personal safety at work, with incidents ranging from physical assaults to injuries.
The Education Minister was unavailable for comment, but a department spokesperson emphasized that most incidents involve elementary students who are still learning social skills. The introduction of a new provincial student code of conduct in September 2025 aims to address these issues by outlining consequences for rule violations, as recommended by the auditor general.
The NSTU advocates for smaller class sizes as a way to mitigate violence in schools, emphasizing the importance of building relationships with students. Additionally, the union stresses the need for more support staff such as psychologists and counsellors to address student needs effectively. CUPE echoes these concerns, highlighting staff understaffing and lack of support as contributing factors to the problem.
The department’s refined definition of violence makes direct comparisons with previous years challenging. However, the new data will serve as a baseline for future assessments. Both unions urge the Education Department to prioritize school safety as a workplace hazard and take a more active role in enforcing safety regulations.
