Student suspension rate rises

THE number of school days missed by secondary students on suspensions has increased by 40 per cent in three years.

Education Department figures show the number of days lost to disciplinary actions increased from 73,712 in 2013 to 102,812 last year. Shadow Education Minister Tracy Davis said teachers deserved better than being forced to deal with out-of-control children.

“Many kids have significant issues at home and they go to school, act out and disrupt the learning of others,” she said.

“There are young people going to school whose behaviour is totally unacceptable.”

But Education Minister Kate Jones said the introduction of Year 7 into high school and principals being given more powers were behind the rise in lost days.