Shock school directive: Students caught vaping are not to be suspended

Principals have been directed not to suspend kids caught vaping at Gold Coast public schools, State Parliament has been told.

Principals have been directed not to suspend kids caught vaping at Gold Coast public schools, State Parliament has been told.

Coomera MP Michael Crandon has made the claim after talking to several campus sources, sparking a heated response from the Government.

He says students are being suspended for smoking cigarettes or using alcohol but not vaping because it will make Education Queensland’s behaviour statistics look poor.

“Let me make it clear. Principals have been told not to suspend students for using vaping products,” Mr Crandon said.

Education Minister Grace Grace strongly rejected the claim saying “that is absolute false”.

Mr Crandon told the Education Minister he was concerned about the “turn in policy”.

“I’m very concerned about that. It (not suspending them) sends a message,” he said.

Mr Crandon first wrote to the Health Minister Yvette D’Ath two years ago after Coast principals told him concerned parents did not understand the products were highly addictive.

Coomera MP Michael Crandon (inset) concerned about an explosion of vaping at schools in the northern Gold Coast.

Ms D’Ath told him she shared the concerns of principals but added that e-cigarette data was low only rising to 2.9 per cent of people aged older than 14.

Principals in response warned that the data was “outdated”. A single e-cigarette had the nicotine potency of “a full pack of cigarettes”.

“The use of the these products at school is 100 times more prevalent than the worst schools I’ve been in for cigarette smoking,” a principal wrote.

“The use of e-cigarettes at student parties and social gatherings is at the point where kids that aren’t using them stand out.”

In June 2021, the principal told Mr Crandon vaping was the number one cause of suspension.

“We did around 20 last week and the local primary schools are also suspending students for vaping,” the principal said.

Mr Crandon said two existing tobacco outlets at Ormeau now had another two competitors.

“We have seen an explosion of tobacconists popping up in the northern Gold Coast, the fastest growing region in Queensland, which has the largest youth population,” he said.

Michael Crandon in State Parliament — protective of his sources, but they are telling him kids are not being suspended for vaping. Pic Jono Searle.

Several sources confirmed Education Queensland had directed no suspensions for vaping.

“Because vaping is exploding, going through the roof. So it would blow all the (suspension and behaviour) figures out the window,” Mr Crandon said.

“It’s a massive issue in State and private schools. It is unfortunately now filtering down to younger kids — older kids getting them for younger kids.

“It seems like (from two years ago) they are turning a blind eye, and turning their policy around, we’re not going to suspend for vaping because it is too big an issue for them.”

Ms Grace said new laws debated last week in Parliament would see a crackdown on e-cigarettes, vaping and illegal tobacco stores.

She asked Mr Crandon to provide evidence of where schools were not suspending students.

“The decision to suspend a student rests with the school. Our teachers and principals are professionals, and they will take into account all the individual circumstances, as no two incidents are the same,” she said.

Education Minister Grace Grace — disputing claims by Michael Crandon. Picture: Dan Peled / NCA NewsWire.

“They will also be guided by a student code of conduct which is developed in collaboration with the school community.

“What the department has said, and has always said, is that they do not support suspension as a first response to discipline — and that includes smoking and vaping — where another approach is available. ‘

Ms Grace applauded schools like Elanora State High School where students identified as using vapes were provided with counselling and support.

“The school also provides a two-week vaping education program, run at a lunchtime, to educate students on the harmful effects of vaping and to provide practical strategies to assist them to stop,” she said.

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