Drug tests in schools
I DID read with sadness the comments by the PM in Tuesday’s edition that drug testing in schools may be considered as necessary to help protect our children and adults in those environments.
It’s sad, because apparently this is needed or perceived as such, in order to combat the criminally related issues of the outside developed world.
“Fiji the way the world should be” the slogan that we made our national banner is a far off cry at the moment.
Having lived extensively in the first world, today’s news sounded all too reminiscent of elementary schools in some American inner cities, for example, that must include metal detectors at their gates to admit students daily on campus. This is for weapons control.
Access to illicit drugs are the beginning of such a decline in safety and security for our children and youth.
Calling all regulatory bodies, ministers for women and children’s affairs, parents, teachers and the general community. I hope that we will prevail in prayers and programs for our children and adult leaders. That all stakeowners to the next generations (we’re all in this together!) will endeavour to provide the protections and alternative programs to this kind of student-learning environment.
Illicit drugs in schools are the door openers to down-hill travel socially speaking. Statistically this is clarified the world-over, but especially in first world nations, where the drugculture is too well developed and the resultant problems are entrenched.
From past experience, the students don’t learn much more than how to deal and indeed survive in a treacherous and drug influenced environment. The involvement of a loving, caring and responsive community will go a long way to combating these problems and uplifting a drug-culture of demise and destruction.
SELINA SAMISONI
Lami