Students suspended over hash-laced cookies

Five pupils at a Melbourne school have been suspended after an illegal drug was planted in cookie dough during a home economics class.

The Year 8 and 9 students did not eat the cookies but were suspended for a minimum of two days, the education department said.

"The school takes all matters of this kind very seriously," a spokesman for the department said in a statement.

"The school immediately contacted the parents of the five students involved (two in Year 9, three in Year 8) and held a meeting with them at school."

The principal of the school in question confirmed some students had been suspended pending an investigation of the incident.

She said the pupils had prepared the hash cookies during a cooking lesson earlier this week.

The school will meet the parents of the offending pupils to discuss the matter and determine when they can return to class.

The students will receive counselling when they return to school next week.