Five young students have been expelled and four suspended from the national college in the Cook Islands after being caught smoking marijuana.
Six of the group were year 9 students and three in year 10.
The school principal, Bali Haque, says to have such young students engage in illegal activity is surprising and disappointing.
Mr Haque says the college takes the behaviour very, very seriously and the school disciplinary committee will decide on punishments for those suspended.
He says of the five expelled, 3 were in year nine.
Mr Haque says the college wants to send a message that this type of behaviour is not acceptable at Tereora.
