THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL DRUG EDUCATION PROGRAM (NDEP) IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Christopher D. Esteban,PhD

The purpose of the study is to assess the implementation of the National Drug Education Program (NDEP) in Public Secondary Schools of Tarlac City Schools Division. It purposely involved all fourteen public secondary school heads and teacher NDEP leaders. A sequential explanatory mixed method of research was utilized in the study. Descriptive measurement was used such as frequency counts, weighted means and levels were established in describing the data gathered.

Findings of the study revealed that: majority of the respondents are female, aged between 31-40 years old, married, with MA/MS units, and only few attended School NDEP in-service trainings for the last three years. As to the NDEP activities carried out or implemented identified by the respondents along alternatives, it was generally described as “strongly implemented”. While along information, education, and intervention, it were described by the respondents as “weakly implemented”. On the other hand along research, it was described as “very weakly implemented”. Among the top problems/challenges encountered in NDEP implementation identified by the respondents were “lack of financial support”; “lack of available NDEP seminars/ training”; “limited time to implement due to work overload”; and “insufficient Drug Abuse and Prevention instructional and reference material.”

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The author is Principal II at Cut Cut II Elementary School, Tarlac City