The President of the Post Primary Teachers Association says latest statistics show teachers need more resources to help them with disruptive students.
Statistics New Zealand released their latest annual report last month detailing the rates of expulsions, stand-downs, exclusion and suspensions in Kiwi schools, as well as looking at demographics and the reasons behind the action.
Maori and Pasifika students were higher than the national average, and students from lower-decile schools were much more likely to be forced out of a school than those from richer schools.
The report says "in 2017, age-standardised stand-down, suspension, exclusion, and expulsion rates all increased.
"Schools continue to stand-down, suspend, and exclude more Māori students than any other ethnic group.
"Male students are more than three times as likely to receive a stand-down, suspension or exclusion, and over four times more likely to be expelled than female students."
The increase, however, comes on the back of a considerable streak of decreases in those areas - the numbers fell continually from 2006 until 2015, rose in 2016 and rose again last year.
PPTA President Jack Boyle, speaking this morning to TVNZ 1's Breakfast programme, said the numbers support teachers asking for more resources, as they now face increased challenges at with disruptive students.
"If we can't actually meet those needs due to resourcing or a lack of structure, then that's unfortunately going to correspond with an uptick in those numbers," Mr Boyle said.
"Making sure we can meet the needs of young people has become more pressing ... the resource has not increased to meet that need."
Mr Boyle's comments come two weeks after the New Zealand Educational Institute union undertook strike action on August 15 asking for a 16 per cent pay increase, better career prospects and more resources to deal with at-risk pupils or those with high needs.
He said if school boards did not have resources for things like specialist counselling or education staff for disruptive students, they are often only left with "negative options" instead of a "safety net".
SHARE ME