NORTHLAND STUDENTS TOPS IN SUSPENSIONS

Drug-abusing Northland pupils are being suspended at twice the rate of
students in other parts of the country.

Northland principals say easy access to marijuana, high unemployment
and a higher proportion of Maori students are all contributing factors.

A just-released Ministry of Education report shows drugs are the
biggest reason for student suspensions and that boys and Maori continue
to make up a disproportionate number of suspensions and stand-downs (in
which pupils can be sent home for up to five days without being
formally suspended).

Across the country, suspension and stand-down rates varied markedly.

In Northland, 15.4 students per 1000 were suspended, compared with 5.2
per 1000 in Auckland, and 8.2 per 1000 in the Waikato.

Kamo High School principal Richard Abel said cannabis was the "single
most significant cause" of suspensions and stand-downs there.

The school ran a programme for students found using cannabis, which
involved a contract between the school, student, parents and police