‘Unacceptably high’: Right to Information document reveals record school suspensions

Shocking new figures have revealed record numbers of students were suspended in Tasmanian schools last year, including a spike in kindergarten and prep students. FULL REPORT >>

Josh Willie MLC Labor member for Elwick. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Almost 9000 suspensions were handed out in Tasmanian schools last year, including more than 60 to children in Kindergarten and Prep, damning new figures released under Right to Information have revealed.

There were a record 8873 suspensions in Tasmanian schools in 2022, according to the data provided to Labor by the Education, Children and Young People Department.

It comes after 8478 suspensions were recorded in 2021.

Between 2017 and 2022, there were a total of 45,734 suspensions across the state and a 28 per cent increase in suspensions was observed over the period.

Eight of the students suspended in 2022 were in Kindergarten and 61 were in Prep.

Labor education and early years spokesman Josh Willie said the numbers were “unacceptably high” and a sign of student “disengagement”.

Josh Willie MLC Labor member for Elwick. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“You can’t help students with their learning when they’re not at school,” he said.

“There aren’t enough school psychologists, there aren’t enough social workers, there are not enough youth workers in our schools.

“And the government has been told that repeatedly by the workforce.”

Mr Willie said an average of about 62,000 students were enrolled in Tasmanian schools over the 2017-22 period.

The data also showed that 307 school staff suffered physical abuse or harassment on the job last year.

Government minister Nic Street said the number of suspensions seen in Tasmanian schools was “unfortunate and only happens in the most serious of circumstances”.

Minister Nic Street. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

“What I can say is that violence and intimidating behaviour towards our teachers and professional education staff is unacceptable in schools and needs to be dealt with,” he said.

“I know that the Minister for Education [Roger Jaensch] has [asked] the Department of Education to undertake a review of the entire system around dealing with violence and intimidation in our schools.

“We will do everything we can to work with the Department of Education on any suggestions they bring forward to help alleviate this problem.”