Drugs, knives and nunchucks: Shock items Qld kids caught with at school

Dozens of kids a day are being caught bringing drugs, or weapons like knives and nunchucks to school. ALL THE DETAILS

Kids are being caught bringing drugs and weapons to school.

Dozens of Queensland kids a day are being caught bringing drugs, or weapons like knives and nunchucks to school, alarming new figures have revealed.

Education Minister Di Farmer, in response to a question on notice on January 27, said students were suspended or excluded 6359 times last year for drug-related incidents, as of the end of term 3.

Drug-related incidents also include legal substances like tobacco, vaping and medication.

Students were also suspended or excluded for weapons-related incidents 600 times.

In 2022, there were 8654 suspensions or exclusions for drug-related incidents handed out, and 595 for weapons-related incidents.

A student on the Sunshine Coast was hospitalised after allegedly being attacked by a fellow classmate with a knife in October last year, while weapons were also allegedly used during a fight outside a Gold Coast state high school weeks later.

State Opposition education spokesman Dr Christian Rowan said the figures were alarming. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire

LNP Education spokesman Dr Christian Rowan said the figures were “deeply concerning” and that they showed the state government was “losing control of safety within schools”. ​

“Every parent is right to be alarmed by these figures,” Dr Rowan said. ​

“Queensland parents have the right to expect that their children will be safe while at school, and not exposed to weapons and drugs.

“Drug and weapons related incidents often result in violence and significant safety risks.”

Queensland Secondary Principals Association acting president Kirsten Ferdinands said the weapons category could include several items that were banned in schools.

Ms Ferdinands said while some of the incidents involved students bringing knives into school grounds, she said the number of those which actually posed a threat to others was “very minimal”.

“Where there have been incidents of any dangerous item being brought into the school grounds they are often reported quickly to school administrators,” Ms Ferdinands said.

“Some students innocently bring knives in their lunch bags for cutting an apple which also will be reported and followed up by school leadership teams.

“But we can’t have students bringing in anything that compromises student or staff safety, and that’s part of the educational process for principals.”

Ms Ferdinands said other banned weapons that children would bring to school included a mix of easily accessible items from overseas which also could pose a risk to the safety of others.

“While they’re not necessarily used as a threat, kids will say ‘look what I’ve got’. And it’s about them understanding why this has to be banned,” she said.

“Principals and school leadership teams continue to work with parents and students regarding creating safe environments for all.”

Dr Rowan said the figures should serve as a wake-up call and prompt immediate action from the new Education Minister. ​

“You can’t fix what you don’t measure. Incredibly, the state government still does not accurately capture the type of drugs and substances that students are caught using,” he said. ​

“We must have zero tolerance when it comes to drug use in Queensland schools.”

Ms Farmer did not respond when approached by The Courier-Mail.

In response to the question on notice, Ms Farmer said the department works hard to ensure the safety of the more than 570,000 students in Queensland public schools.

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