Up to 50 teenagers will be given school placements as part of a government trial where repeat youth offenders are tracked with electronic monitoring devices.
Principals say they've been blindsided by a state government trial, that would put youth offenders wearing ankle bracelets in Melbourne classrooms.
Up to 50 teenagers will be given school placements as part of a government trial where repeat youth offenders are tracked with electronic monitoring devices.
9News understands if youth offenders meet certain criteria they'll be placed at schools that have experience teaching similar students.
READ MORE: Catastrophic blow-up could be most significant turning point in European history since 1945
The Victorian opposition condemned the proposal.
"Not only compromising the safety of students in those schools, the safety of staff but also putting additional pressures on principals and teachers," Shadow Education Minister Jess Wilson said.
The backlash has been swift from principals and former police officers too.
"They're anxious they're nervous, they're worried," Australian Principals Federation President Tina King said.
"It raises so many concerns around safety, support measures, risk assessments."
READ MORE: Dozens injured when cruise ship hits rough waters after departing Sydney
Teachers, justice workers, the government and the opposition agree education is vital to rehabilitate offenders and stop them from offending in the first place.
Paul Bourke is the CEO of the Les Twentymen Foundation, which supports teens, including those on bail, in schools across Melbourne.
"Probably 80 per cent of the young people we work with have no further contact with law enforcement," Bourke said.
The government's Youth Crime Prevention Program has only seen a 29 per cent reduction in re-offending.
"It doesn't seem from their program that they're in-school youth workers, they're working from I assume a youth justice facility somewhere," Bourke said.
"We will always prioritise the safety of staff and students," a spokesperson for the government said in a statement.
"There is strict criteria when determining who is suitable for the electronic monitoring program including checks to reduce the risk of the young person reoffending."
The trial will begin in April and is set to run for two years.
DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.
Dozens injured when cruise ship hits rough waters after departing Sydney
Catastrophic blow-up could be most significant turning point in European history since 1945
Two Queensland women given wrong cancer diagnoses after 'biopsy mix-up'
Thousands line Sydney streets for Mardi Gras Parade
All the glitz, glamour and sparkle at Sydney Mardi Gras
Win $1m if you can crack the meaning of this ancient code
Severe Tropical Cyclone Alfred inches closer to Queensland coast
Worlds former tallest and fastest roller coaster comes down in implosion
Zelenskyy told to leave after catastrophic shouting match with Trump
Hot with a chance of bushfires: The weather you can expect in autumn
Worker wrestles with chainsaw thief during brazen robbery
Beaumont search team accused of 'preposterous' smear campaign
Just five days of overeating impacts long-term habits, study finds
