Rise in school violence across Nova Scotia leads province to update code of conduct

HALIFAX — In response to a spike in school violence across Nova Scotia in recent years, the provincial government has released an updated code of conduct to guide teachers, administrators and students.

On Tuesday, Education Minister Brendan Maguire called the update “major,” and said the new code sets clear and consistent direction for the education system and details consequences for those who violate the rules.

“We now have a stronger school code of conduct that lays out expectations for everyone in our schools and helps ensure fair and firm consequences anytime learning is disrupted,” Maguire said.

For years the province’s teachers union has called for an update to the code of conduct, and last year the auditor general reported that training and prevention measures had failed to keep pace with the jump in violent behaviour in schools. Auditor general Kim Adair said there had been a 60 per cent increase in reported school violence since 2017 and that staff had said they felt unprepared to deal with the concerning trend.

Over a seven-year period, violent incidents jumped to 27,000 from 17,000, although Adair said the numbers lacked accuracy because teachers, who felt frustrated and unsupported by the system, failed to report all cases.

“I can’t say it enough, that students need safe places to learn and our staff, our administrators and our teachers need to feel safe doing their job,” Maguire said.

Included in the revised code of conduct, scheduled to go into effect in September, are stronger definitions of unacceptable behaviour, such as racism, bullying and cyberbullying, sexual assault and physical violence. Also in the document are guidelines for teachers and administrators listing disciplinary measures, based on severity, for a variety of offences. Disciplinary responses are to consider the age and developmental stage of students as well as intent, and the consequences can range from loss of privileges to long-term suspensions.

The new code requires support to be provided to those affected or harmed by unacceptable behaviour. As well, all school employees will have a duty to report incidents to the Education Department, which says it will review the data for trends and submit quarterly reports.

The minister said the changes are the result of consultations with thousands of school staff and parents, adding that “we wanted to make sure that voices were heard.” Maguire said school staff will be trained over the coming months on how to apply the code of conduct.

Peter Day, president of the Nova Scotia Teachers Union, welcomed the updated code, saying violent incidents occur “each and every day across the province.”

“Realistically it reflects much of the feedback that the (union) provided in the consultation that we had with the government,” Day said.

He said a key component will be the government’s ability to track and provide solutions to violent trends in schools.

“Teachers for years have been inputting this data but unfortunately it didn’t seem to go anywhere,” Day said. Also important, he said, is that the province hire enough teacher specialists, school psychologists, and counsellors to help those who are already dealing with “overwhelming caseloads.”

Last fall the province announced plans to add 47 staff across the province to address and prevent violence in classrooms. Officials said Tuesday that the current provincial budget includes funding to hire 40 new counsellors to ensure that every school with more than 150 students has one on site.

Amy Hunt, chair of the Public School Administrators Association of Nova Scotia, said she is glad to see that responsibility under the revised code is shared by all members of the education system.

“Harm does take place and we need to support each other in that work,” Hunt said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 29, 2025.

Keith Doucette, The Canadian Press