THE head boy of a west Belfast school at the centre of a protest over teacher absenteeism has said he has suffered panic attacks and has had to receive counselling over the dispute.
Peter Heenan (18) said he had to drop out of his AS level in Government and Politics following the long-term absence of his teacher from De La Salle College in Andersonstown.
"This is a prime example of how students, like myself, are suffering at the hands of this industrial dispute," he said on Friday.
The school has seen pickets by parents and sixth form pupils this week amid fears that exam results will be affected.
Teachers are said to be concerned about an incident that took place last year at the school and how it was subsequently handled.
Mr Heenan, who is studying for A levels in religion, English literature and drama, said teacher absences had "seriously hindered the chances of me achieving my predicted grades".
He added: "I myself now have to receive counselling and have suffered two panic attacks in the last week alone as a result of the current situation within the school".
In a letter to the school's Board of Governors and the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools, Mr Heenan said he had serious concerns about the school.
"How are we to feel reassured in an environment where students are kept in the dark and subjected to a never ending cycle of substitute teachers?" he said.
Mr Heenan said difficulties at De La Salle have "come to disrupt the education and emotional wellbeing of me and my fellow peers".
He said a plan on how to tackle the issue had been drawn up in January and a strategy group was established but "there have been no benefits from a student's perspective".
"Throughout my time at De La Salle College I have built fantastic working relationships with teachers who unfortunately feel as though they can no longer work in such a hostile environment," he said.
"With exam season just around the corner I do not feel confident I will achieve my target grades as a direct result of the ongoing industrial dispute within the college.
"Neither the industrial dispute, nor the subsequent negative implications upon pupils are breaking news; rather it has been a reality staff and pupils have had to endure for far too long.
"As a pupil I should not have to teach myself; I should not have sleepless nights over falling behind and I certainly should not feel like a stranger in my own school."
The school said earlier this week it was "actively managing" any concerns and will set up extended coursework and revision clinics for pupils due to sit exams.
But Mr Heenan said he felt the dispute had been "poorly" dealt with by the school's management.
He added: "I am the shell of the student I once was, and I am not alone".
