EDUCATION Minister Rod Welford has finally admitted the scale of bullying problems in schools, a month after it was revealed thousands of Far Northern students were suspended and expelled each year for violent and anti-social behaviour.

Mr Welford conceded anti-bullying campaigns were not working and said the State Government needed to change its programs to curb an alarming increase in violence, especially among younger students.

The Cairns Post revealed in June that 1998 students were suspended in the 2005-06 and 2006-07 financial years for physical misconduct. Another 43 students were expelled.

A video has since been posted on the internet, showing a student being king-hit in a classroom at Bentley Park College.

Another video on YouTube showed a Malanda State High School student being repeatedly punched and kicked.

Parents welcomed Mr Welford's admission yesterday.

The mother of a bullied Gordonvale State High School student, who told her story to The Cairns Post four weeks ago, said intervention was overdue.

"They need to do something and they need to do it fast," she said.

"My son is still being bullied, it hasn’t stopped at all.

"To see the pain in these kids’ eyes… Bullies shouldn't be suspended, they should be expelled and the cane should be brought back."

Mr Welford said four weeks ago that alarming Queensland Education figures for the Far North reflected the success of a Code of School Behaviour, rather than an increase in bullying.

But he has now called for early intervention by parents and schools.

"As Minister, I am becoming increasingly doubtful of the value of anti-bullying campaigns per se," he said.

"We need to intervene early to build relationship skills."

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