One third of secondary teachers have taught students in the last year who were under the influence of alcohol or drugs, according to a survey.
The survey of 1,200 teachers was carried out by the teachers' union Asti. It reports more than 40 per cent of teachers say they are stressed.
It found that 71 per cent of respondents had taught classes in the past year where there was continuous disruptive behaviour by students, 54 per cent had been the subject of verbal abuse, and 30 per cent complained of parents refusing to co-operate with sanctions imposed on disruptive pupils.
The survey also says that 29 per cent of teachers have considered leaving the profession.
Teachers identified a number of priorities for Asti. Almost all teachers surveyed - 97 per cent - recommended that the union seek a change in the legislation to secure the collective right of students to learn free from disruption by a minority.