Teachers in the Waikato are at a loss to explain why the region's schools are suspending so many more students than years gone by

While school suspensions are up across the country, in the Waikato the number jumped 29-percent between 2018 and 2019.

In comparison, suspensions in Auckland rose by 10 percent during the same period.

Waikato Principals Association President Marcus Freke is unsure why Waikato's number is so big, but says teachers are seeing more extreme behaviour from students who are a more aggressive and less compliant in the classroom.