Vic govt rules out drug tests for students

The Victorian government has ruled out testing school students for drug use, amid concerns that children are using ice.

Education Minister James Merlino responded to reports in News Corp that a number of schools had sought advice from drug and alcohol services about drug testing for students.

"As education minister and as a parent, I don't support drug testing in schools," Mr Merlino told reporters on Wednesday.

"We don't want to discourage kids who have a drug problem of going to school in the first place; we want them in the school gates so we can help them."

He said tougher penalties and working in communities were the key to addressing the ice problem.

He said schools had social workers trained to help children using drugs, and could use a number of outside resources to get the students the help they need.