Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

More bad behaviour among youngest children - union

Updated at 1:03 pm on 22 August 2011

The primary teachers' union says schools are seeing more extreme behaviour from their youngest children.

Ministry of Education figures show schools stood down five-year-olds 70 times last year, and six-year-olds in 131 instances.

There were six suspensions of five-year-olds and 20 of six-year-olds.

New Zealand Educational Institute (NZEI) president Ian Leckie says schools are feeling the effect of wider societal problems.

But the ministry says the rate of suspension for five- and six-year-olds has not increased in the past five years.

It says the stand-down rate for six-year-olds has decreased but the rate of stand-downs among five-year-olds has risen slightly.

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