MORE STUDENTS CARRYING DRUGS

POLICE were called to NSW schools 39 times in the first two terms of this
year after students were discovered dealing or in possession of drugs.

The new figures -- a sharp increase on previous years -- show police were
called to schools more than four times a week during the first half of the
year to deal with students caught with drugs.

The rate of incidents requiring police involvement is more than double the
rate of two years ago.

Education Minister John Aquilina defended the rate claiming it was
"inappropriate and misleading" to directly compare the figures to previous
years.

There had been significant improvements in reporting procedures, he said.