Four Horsham College students joined thousands of pupils across the country on Friday as part of the Schools Strike 4 Climate protest.

Students walked out of their classrooms to protest government inaction on climate change.

Horsham College Year 11 students Emily Suter, Kristen Smith, Xenitty Crouch and Shariah Leteltze protested at May Park on Friday afternoon.

They were given permission by their parents and a street pass from their school.

Organiser Emily Suter said the idea started with a conversation with her mum.

"We got to talking about how bad climate change was and how bad everything is getting with the planet and she said 'well why don't you do something about it?'," she said. 

"So I did a bit of research and found these events going on and thought I'd try and do one myself. I was going to go to the Ballarat one, but I couldn't make it."

Emily said she felt the need to make a stand to show that Horsham cared about climate change.

"We are quite a small town, but we are still a part of it. I think (students) are not as young and naive as some people think. We do know what's going on, and we're just doing our part," she said.

"If this is one thing we can do to get noticed, then we should be allowed to."

On Thursday morning, Education Minister and Member for Wannon Dan Tehan said he didn't support the action by students.

"What we've got to make sure is that our students learn, come to school and understand the importance of all issues, including when it comes to bullying. If they want to take other action on issues that they think are important, they should do so after school or on weekends," he said.

"No one is going to stop them from doing that. But what our message is, loud and clear today, to all students: be at school."

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