Northland primary schools threaten to permanently suspend kids causing chaos

Te Tai Tokerau Principals Association President Pat Newman said suspension is the worst-case scenario but schools are being pushed to breaking point, leaving them with no other option. Photo / File

Northland primary schools are threatening to permanently suspend troubled children causing chaos in the classroom - until schools can afford to support them.

Te Tai Tokerau Principals Association President Pat Newman said suspension is the worst-case scenario but schools are being pushed to breaking point, leaving them with no other option.

Numbers of violent children have spiked with around 10 to 12 troubled children at Whangarei's Hora Hora School alone, Newman said.

Staff and students feel unsafe with children throwing desks, fighting in the playground and stabbing kids with scissors.

Suspension is not an ideal outcome for anyone, Newman said, but schools' options are bleak.

"They [violent children] should be in school but we're not getting the support that we need," he said.

"The maximum that Special Ed can fund is about two hours a day but the children are in school for six hours," Newman said.

Diagnosing and medicating children is not enough and counselling services are drastically needed, he said.

It was important to address these issues at a young age before things get out of hand, Newman said.

"In five or 10 year's time we'll spend $150,000 each year putting them in jail," Newman said.

Education Minister Hekia Parata told schools to pool resources and share support, Newman said.

But keeping violent students in school all together is driving schools into deficit.

Te Tai Tokerau Principals Association is urging the Government to come up with a realistic solution.

Ministry of Education's national director for learning support David Wales said the Ministry is well aware of the problems in Northland.

He said suspension is not the answer and if violent behaviour is occurring schools should discuss it with police.