Pupils at schools in Fermanagh and South Tyrone accumulated 1641 days in suspension between 2019 and 2024. The Education Minister released the figures in response to a question on suspensions across Northern Ireland.

The total equates to almost four and a half years. The data covers years affected by Covid-19 school disruptions.

Suspensions rose over the period. In 2019/20, pupils spent 231 days suspended. The figure increased to 257 days in 2020/21, 361 days in 2021/22, 361 days in 2022/23, and 431 days in 2023/24.

Most suspensions lasted up to two days. Pupils suspended for five or more days accounted for 259 days of the total.