In October, Education Queensland banned all state school teachers from using sites such as Facebook to communicate with past and present pupils.

Victorian teachers are not expressively forbidden from such contact.

A Department of Education and Early Childhood Development spokeswoman said the department did not dictate what kind of web technology or electronic media a teacher used outside school hours, but it did require that any interaction with students was on a strictly professional basis.

"Schools are using technology as part of modern education to support learning and engage students. Teachers and students are expected to use this technology responsibly.

"It's common for schools to have Facebook groups, which are created by former students wanting to stay in touch."

But an outer east secondary school principal said most schools banned access to Facebook through their internet networks.

Michael McNamara, principal of Croydon Secondary College, said the school did not use Facebook, Twitter or MySpace to engage with its students, but did teach and reinforce "the dangers of cyberbullying".

Mr McNamara, who said he did not have a Facebook account, said the school was not involved in managing two Facebook accounts for Croydon Secondary College, which have more than 1000 members between them and where past and present students can share memories.

He said the school relied on more traditional means to contact past students.

"Our anniversary dinner, for example, was attended by 200 guests including people from interstate."