School Stand-Downs Show Steady Increase
Posted on: Monday, 3 October 2005, 15:00 CDT
By MARRIS, Sharon
RECENTLY released figures show the number of students being stood down from Taranaki schools is steadily increasing.
The figures released by The Ministry of Education for the months January to June 2005 put the number of stand-down cases at 363.
The total for 2004 was 613, while 2003 recorded 568 stand-downs, most of these from secondary schools.
A stand-down is not as severe as a suspension.
The student is removed from school for a certain period, no more than five days each term or 10 days per year. After this period, the student is able to return to school.
Suspension cases showed a slight increase with 73 being reported to the ministry in the first half of 2005.
Full-year figures for Taranaki last year were 140, up from 114 in 2003.
Taranaki Secondary Schools Principals' Association spokesperson Harry Cast, also principal of Waitara High School, said Taranaki schools were better off than most in New Zealand.
"The difference in Taranaki is that our schools work together," he said. "All Taranaki schools have been working hard at cutting down suspensions."
Mr Cast said programmes in schools such as the High On Life anti- drug campaign were making a difference. But the issue was still a complex one.
Young people staying at school because of a lack of other opportunities also had an impact on stand-down and suspension statistics, he said.
"I don't think schools have been tougher but there are certainly concerns about some issues," he said.
David Balham, of the Ministry of Education, stressed that the figures had not been finalised and reasons for the suspension or stand-down could not yet be identified.
Major reasons in previous years have been physical assault on other students and verbal assault on staff.
In 2004, 50% of those suspended enrolled at a different school, 14% went to correspondence school and 6% re-enrolled at the suspending school.
Source: Daily News; New Plymouth, New Zealand
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