2000-plus schoolkids caught with drugs

Students were caught with drugs in 2173 incidents at school last year and the youngest child to be stood down was in year 3.

But the figure is the lowest in three years, according to preliminary data.

Last year, there were 1324 stand-downs and 849 suspensions in New Zealand schools for drug-related behaviour (including substance abuse), according to figures released to the Herald.

The Ministry of Education said the data was still being updated by schools and so could not be compared with other years, but previous figures have quoted there being 2441 drug incidents in 2009 and 2690 in 2010.

A year 3 student - aged between 7 and 8 - was stood down in the Manawatu-Wanganui region. The youngest to be suspended were two year 5 students - aged between 9 and 10 - in Gisborne and Wellington.

Gisborne had the highest number of incidents per capita where students were caught with drugs, with a total of 77 suspensions and stand-downs from a roll of 9353.

A stand-down is the removal of a learner for a period of up to five days, with the decision made by the principal. A suspension is the formal removal of a student until the school's board of trustees makes a decision about when they can return.

Secondary Schools Principals' Association president Patrick Walsh said students bringing drugs to school was a major concern. It was one of the main reasons for disciplinary action against students.

"There wouldn't be a school in the country that wouldn't from time to time have to deal with students who either bring drugs to school to deal in them or to use them in school," Mr Walsh told the Herald.

Included in last year's student drug busts was the 14-year-old girl at Hamilton's Fairfield College who in November gave pink pills to seven of her friends after stealing the drugs from her mother's handbag.

Read the rest here:
2000-plus schoolkids caught with drugs