The Victorian government is set to grant principals unprecedented authority to expel students for misconduct occurring outside of school hours, provoking criticism from various quarters. This policy, effective from the beginning of Term 3, will allow school leaders to suspend or expel students for violent actions, even if they happen beyond school premises.
Education Minister Ben Carroll highlighted that the misconduct could range from bullying to the use of AI-generated harmful content or physical assaults. The intent behind the initiative is to address concerning incidents, such as a recent case involving a student who allegedly threatened another with a machete in a local McDonald’s.
Carroll described the measure as a “common-sense” solution, emphasising the necessity of holding students accountable for their behaviour. Nevertheless, the announcement has caught many school leaders off guard, with some, like Tina King from the Australian Principals Association, expressing unease and asserting that principals learned of the new policy only through news reports. The response from the educational community has largely been one of apprehension, as many expressed worries about the implications of such powers on the students.
The opposition has deemed the government’s approach hasty, with spokesperson Jess Wilson labelling it as a surprise to principals. Experts in early intervention have also raised concerns, suggesting that expelling students could merely push them toward negative influences, such as gangs, potentially perpetuating a cycle of violence. Paul Burke, the chief executive of the Les Twentyman Foundation, warned that excluding children from schools could lead to detrimental consequences, reinforcing gang culture rather than deterring misconduct.
The policy’s effectiveness and implications are now being debated among educators and stakeholders, with many advocating for more supportive measures rather than punitive actions against students.