NSW denies axing school counsellors THE NSW government has denied opposition claims the suspension of almost 13,000 students in a year is linked to any axing of school counsellor positions. NSW Education Department figures show almost 13,000 students were slapped with long suspensions of between five and 20 days in 2012. The average suspension length was 11.8 days. Most of those punished students came from years seven to 10, with violent behaviour and weapon and drug possession usually attracting the long suspensions. The NSW Opposition said the suspension figure, based on the most recent annual statistics available, was the largest since 2008. Education spokesman Ryan Park said the O'Farrell government had refused to rule out cutting school counsellors as part of the 2400 positions it would cull across the state education sector over four years. "Whether it be mental health issues, problems relating to family breakdowns or the impact of cyber bullying and drug and alcohol misuse, schools need the support of trained counsellors," he said in a statement. But Education Department media director Mark Davis said counsellor numbers had not reduced, and schools were receiving more help with 50 Student Support Officers employed in strategic areas since 2011. Mr Davis said long suspensions corrected inappropriate behaviour, with more than 72 per cent of students suspended not attracting similar disciplines again. Rachael Sowden, of the Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations NSW, said the suspensions needed to be put in perspective. "You have to keep it in perspective knowing that there are three quarters of a million students in NSW public schools," she told Macquarie Radio.