Nova Scotia is considering a plan that will move hard-core bullies out of mainstream schools and into their own classrooms. The proposal comes months after a 14-year-old Halifax boy killed himself, allegedly to escape being bullied at school.

Nova Scotia Education Minister Jane Purves says she is considering the proposal as part of an anti-bullying initiative the province is planning to test in three schools.

"I would suggest that the pilot projects that we're talking about would be a way to address some of the kids who are doing the most severe bullying, probably take them out and put them in a different school for a while,'' Purves said.

Separating such problem students would protect other students from bullying as well as provide an opportunity to change the bullies' behaviour.

The pilot project would likely use an existing facility, possibly a separate classroom within a school that's already in use.

But Purves says a decision on the feasibility of such a program is still a long way off.

"It's going to be a lengthy process -- we'll have to see if it's doable,'' she said. "It's no good to just come up with an idea, you want to have a fairly good chance of success.''

The proposal comes two months after the death of 14-year-old Emmet Fralick. The Halifax grade nine student shot himself April 8 after months of bullying by a trio of classmates.

Nova Scotia's Department of Education plans to unveil a new code of conduct for schools next fall, but Purves has refused to comment on whether it will include a strict code of punishment for bullies.