A Wairarapa secondary school says its plan for random drug searches is about identifying issues students may have and nipping them in the bud.

Kuranui College in Greytown will have handlers and their dogs sweep the property during school time, including classrooms and lockers - but won't search students themselves.

Principal Simon Fuller says it's not about kicking students out of school, but rather part of a wider education initiative.

He says they're not immune to outside society influences and are trying to take a more proactive and rigorous approach to teaching students.

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