HIGH ALERT

37 pupils expelled for drugs, alcohol ‘Once they’re hooked, dealers have customers for life’

PARENTS are in for a reality check after a spate of incidents that show the drug problem is moving off the streets and into schools. Since the middle of last year, more than 37 high school pupils in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng have been expelled for being in possession of, or consuming, drugs on school property. Alcohol is also a growing problem. Pupils who were high or intoxicated were not only harming themselves and potentially others, but causing disruptions to the teaching and learning process, said the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education.

The department is about to embark on a campaign with the police to curb the worrying problem.

“Since last year more than 20 pupils have been expelled from schools in KZN for being in possession of drugs or for consuming alcohol,” said department spokesman Muzi Mahlambi.

“Teachers are also concerned about their safety because pupils are not in the right frame of mind and they become violent. We will not tolerate this type of behaviour in our school system. We want to raise men and women who can contribute to our society, not bring it down.”

Last week a pupil from Phoenix became ill after drinking and was found passed out outside Woodview Secondary School.

And in Gauteng a concerned teacher from MH Joosub Technical Secondary School in Lenasia lifted the lid on the drug problem there when she reported the matter to the provincial education department.

Acting immediately, the department, together with the SAPS, conducted a raid at the school and two pupils were caught in possession of drugs and weapons. Bottles of alcohol were also found.

Both schools declined comment for this story. Mahlambi said parents needed to show more responsibility.

“When we investigate these matters we find that pupils come from homes where they are taught to buy alcohol for their parents. Some parents, on special occasions like parties during Christmas and New Year, allow their children to have a drink and this must stop.”

He said parents needed to take a stand and realise that their actions had damaging effects on their children.

Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi admitted that the drug problem was escalating at schools and that the department had expelled 17 pupils found with various drugs.

He said they had tried to send affected pupils for rehabilitation or to different schools, but that had not yielded results.

“The department is now working with the MEC of Community Safety to build an intelligence-driven programme to work with communities.”

Vee Gani, chairman of the KZN Parents Association, said drug dealers saw teenagers as potential customers because they were an untapped market.

Free

“Dealing in drugs and selling alcohol is a business and dealers are always looking to grow their businesses by attracting new customers. Some dealers will even give out a few hits of dagga for free as an investment, to give pupils a taste of what a ‘high’ feels like, because the dealers know that once a pupil is hooked, they will have a customer for life.”

Gani said expelling children for their actions was a step in the right direction.

“Substance and alcohol abuse is rife in our schools and I support expulsion, because one pupil in a school of 500 can easily influence other children to take drugs and consume alcohol, thus growing the problem further.”

Gani said he knew of one Chatsworth school where about 20 pupils were involved in drugs and they were very disruptive.

When caught they had gone before a tribunal and some had been expelled.

Within weeks, the drug problem there had eased significantly, he said, because of the fear of facing the same extreme sanction.

Gani said parents needed to conscientise their children about the danger of drugs.

“Pupils will experiment, and they normally do so with gateway drugs like dagga. Some will even steal alcohol from their parents.

“When this happens and parents find out, they need to reprimand their children so they will not do it again.”

However, many parents were in denial, he said.

“I have sat in meetings held after children were caught with drugs and the parents were in total denial. They defended their children and verbally attacked the principals saying their children are being victimised.”

Gani said parents needed a “wake-up call”.

“For those who drink, smoke and consume alcohol, be better role models. Your children follow your example. Know what you child is doing, who their friends are, and most important, educate them about drug and alcohol abuse.”