Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs But an Education Department spokesperson said any criminal offence involving staff or students should be reported to police. “The safety and wellbeing of students is the highest priority of all schools – and any reports of violence on or near school grounds are immediately investigated,” the spokesperson said.LoadingAccording to police, crimes against the person – a category that includes assaults – account for less than a third of offences committed at schools.Dalgleish said schools were mostly incredibly safe, but he wasn’t surprised to see reported assaults increasing, something which was consistent with violent acts teachers were seeing at schools.He said Australian principal occupational health, safety and wellbeing data showed when there was violence in schools, it was often directed towards staff.“There is really a challenge about what’s the cause of it, and what is the solution,” he said. “What is causing our young people to be disengaged? And for those that do resort to violence, how do we treat it, while still trying to keep young people engaged in education?”The crime data showed there was a 14 per cent increase in stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour reported at schools in financial year 2023-24 from the year prior. The data shows there were 56 such reported incidents at schools in 2015 – but by 2024 the number was 96.“While stalking, harassment and threatening behaviour offences occur at schools, they are not frequent, with less than 130 reported for the entire year,” a police spokesman said. “Pleasingly, these types of offences have also decreased from the levels seen in Victorian schools before the pandemic.”In 2018 and 2019, there were more than 100 offences reported, the data shows.Dalgleish said he suspected those cases were more likely to involve student-on-student allegations and secondary schools. They could also include the use of social media.The most common offences at school locations were burglaries, thefts and assaults, according to police.“While the crime data does not reference times of offending, anecdotally most burglaries and thefts take place outside school hours,” the police spokesman said.The Independent Education Union’s general secretary, David Brear, said: “The IEU is concerned by reports from some schools of the poor risk management of students, with known tendencies toward violence, who have hit, bitten, or kicked other students and staff.“The obligation of schools to provide a safe work environment extends to eliminating or at least minimising all workplace violence, yet some schools, sometimes incorrectly citing disability discrimination law, are prepared to let the behaviour go on – and staff become daily punching bags.”The Australian Education Union declined to comment.On Monday, Premier Jacinta Allan addressed a report in News Corp that said student suspensions at state schools have soared in recent years due to a rise in violent or unruly behaviour.“The safety of all students and staff in every school is of critical importance. It is why we have been rolling out programs and initiatives to support schools. We want to make sure schools are safe, respectful places for students and all staff,” she said.One of the programs she was referring to is Positive Classroom Management Strategies, which trains teachers to set classroom routines and build three-way relationships with students and their parents.The Crime Statistics Agency data includes incidents that occur on school grounds outside operating hours.State schools have a centrally managed security system, including 24/7 alarm monitoring and CCTV.The Morning Edition newsletter is our guide to the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up here.
