Teachers warn the rise reflects an increase in drug use in the community.
The Department of Education, Training and Employment's (DETE) annual report reveals the number of exclusions handed out to state school students for "substance misconduct involving an illicit substance" jumped about 50 per cent last financial year from 160 in 2010-2011 to 237.
Six were in primary school levels. The illicit drugs category does not include alcohol or cigarettes.
Merrimac State High School had the highest number of illicit drug exclusions with 10 students expelled in 2011-12.
Mabel Park, Dakabin and Maroochydore state high schools excluded seven pupils each.
The State Government declared last year that it had cracked down on drugs in schools following an increase in pupils caught with them in 2009 and 2010
Last financial year was also the first in recent history that Government principals were able to expel students, over the entire 12 months, without departmental approval.
The Government had predicted the new powers would spark a jump in exclusions, but principals disagreed.
Queensland Secondary Principals' Association president Norm Fuller said he still didn't think the principal power was behind the jump, with many more cautious because they had to withstand any challenges.
"I would certainly say there has been a tough stance on drugs," Mr Fuller said.
Queensland Teachers' Union president Kevin Bates said the number of students excluded for illicit drugs was "minuscule" given 500,000 attended state schools, "but any number is concerning".
"Because the reality is any issue of drugs in schools is a major concern because clearly for many of those more serious offences it's not just about possession, which is serious enough, but it is often about kids providing drugs to other kids," Mr Bates said.
DETE acting assistant director-general Marg Pethiyagoda said drugs were a community problem "and schools are part of the community". She said any incident involving drugs in schools were reported to police.
DETE Minister John-Paul Langbroek said illicit drugs had no place in any school and principals had his full support in taking a tough stance.
Independent and Catholic schools do not have to provide exclusion and suspension figures, leaving the state sector in the spotlight over the issue.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/queensland-state-school-illicit-drug-expulsions-up-50-per-cent/story-e6frg6n6-1226498898148
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