Sexual harassment, sexual misconduct and the use of weapons appear to be on the rise in Otago schools, Ministry of Education figures released this week show.
But the ministry's 2011 school disciplinary data also showed the number of stand-downs, suspensions, exclusions and expulsions in Otago state and state-integrated schools were declining.
School disciplinary measures peaked in 2009, with 788 stand-downs, 177 suspensions, 57 exclusions and seven expulsions, but for 2011 the figures declined to 710 stand-downs, 117 suspensions, 44 exclusions and fewer than five expulsions.
While disciplinary action for continual disobedience, drugs (including substance abuse), physical assault on pupils and staff, verbal assault on pupils and staff; smoking or alcohol; and theft, vandalism or arson has declined in Otago schools, the figures also reveal the number of pupils disciplined for "sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, weapons and other harmful and dangerous behaviours" has increased.
The latter category is labelled as "other" in the statistics.
Stand-downs in this category sit at a five-year high of 77, while suspensions have increased from five in 2007 to 18 in 2011.
The number of pupils excluded from Otago schools in this category has increased from zero in 2007 to 10 in 2011.
There have been no expulsions for the behavioural category in the past five years.
The statistics, released by the ministry under the Official Information Act, show the increase in sexual misbehaviour and use of weapons in schools appear to have been driven by Dunedin schools.
Dunedin Secondary Schools Partnership manager Gordon Wilson said there was no doubt the figures in the "other" category had increased, but he questioned whether it meant there had been a marked increase in the number of pupils disciplined for sexual assault, sexual harassment or carrying weapons.
"It's quite a broad category.
"It's probably a catch-all for things that don't fit into other categories such as assault or drugs.
"I don't know how reliable the data categories are because it relies on schools interpreting the categories."
Otago Secondary Principals' Association president Brent Russell said the figures would be upsetting for principals, but he believed the pupils were not a lost cause.
"Those under 16 are clearly exhibiting behaviours we don't want to see in schools.
"But because they are under 16, they can be turned around. Sometimes these pupils are given a second chance, purely by having to move on to another school.
"That may happen because their living environment may change if they have to move to a school in another area. Twenty to 30 years ago, a number of these kids would have fallen through the cracks.
"But with the current willingness from not only education institutions, but other community support groups, they make sure they are engaged in meaningful education, which gets them back on track."
Mr Wilson said all the pupils excluded or expelled in Dunedin last year had returned to some form of education.
