There was an increase in expulsions

The Scottish Executive said the overall drop showed that its alternatives to exclusions were working.

However, opposition parties condemned the executive's record, with the Scottish National Party claiming that there has been a rise of 7.5% in the past five years.

According to government figures for 2001/2002 there were 37,442 exclusions, a fall of 3% on previous figures.

Headteachers must be given control of their schools and the ability to exclude unruly pupils without worrying about Government-imposed quotas Brian Monteith Scottish Tories

The majority of pupils were suspended but a total of 332 pupils were removed from school registers during the academic year, which was a 3% increase on the previous year's figure.

Education Minister Cathy Jamieson said: "Disruption in the classroom benefits nobody - it hinders teaching and it hinders learning.

"That is why it is vital that schools have in place policies which deal with such situations.

"Our alternatives to exclusion programme gives schools other options to deal with bad behaviour - options which address the problems out of the classroom, but within the school environment."

Ministers want fewer exclusions

The SNP said exclusions had risen by 7.5% overall in five years.

Education spokesman Michael Russell said: "In a typical fantasy land statement Cathy Jamieson claims that the executive policy is making a difference - but the real difference is nothing to crow about.

"The Labour manifesto 1999 promised to 'reduce school exclusions by a third by 2002' - but exclusions, truancy and violence have all risen under Labour."

The Scottish Conservatives said the executive was failing to tackle violence in schools.

The party pointed to recently-published figures which showed there were 3,811 incidents involving violence against staff in 2001/2.

Education spokesman Brian Monteith said: "This scandalous figure will not improve until the Scottish government abandon their ridiculous targets aimed at reducing exclusions.