Danger on the rise in NSW schools

A report shows an increase in the number of serious incidents at NSW schools, particularly those involving assaults, threats and weapons.

Drugs, assaults and weapons are becoming more prevalent in NSW schools, with a report finding a sharp rise in serious incidents in the past few years.

For the first two terms of 2013, 772 serious incidents were recorded at schools across the state, the government's safety and security report showed.

According to the report there were 131 assaults, 59 incidents involving weapons, 27 related to drugs and 74 serious threats were made.

"Many of the incidents included threats, intimidation or assault on teachers or principals," opposition education spokesman Ryan Park said.

This is up from 214 and 243 serious incidents for the first two terms of 2011 and 276 and 258 incidents in the same period in 2012.

Assaults decreased between term one and two of last year but incidents involving weapons, drugs and threats rose.

Among the worst of the incidents was the stabbing of a student with a knife stolen from another student who was permitted to bring the blade to school for an art project, Mr Park said.

A pupil at a Broken Hill school smashed a window and tried to stab her classmates with broken glass.

The cases and the statistics were alarming, Mr Park said.

"Our schools should be one of the safest places in our community ... where teachers can work without the fear of been attacked or injured," he said in a statement.

The government needed to provide more resources to school counsellors and create more places for students with severe problems, he said.

"The government has a duty to do everything possible to reverse this trend."

Comment has been sought from the NSW government.


2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


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