The number of violent assaults in New South Wales (NSW) schools has increased by more than half during the past decade, prompting a possible easing of restrictions on student suspensions.
Education Minister Prue Car has launched a review of limits introduced by the previous government on the duration and number of times a pupil can be suspended, which some teachers say leaves them with fewer tools to manage behaviour.
Last year, police responded to 1997 assaults on school premises—about 10 per day—up from 1217 in 2013, according to Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research data.
“I’m really concerned about the increase in assaults … Our students deserve safe schools, and our teachers deserve safe workplaces,” Car said on Wednesday….