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Illustration of Behaviour, drug use top agenda at forum

Addressing School Drug Abuse: A Call for Community Action

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The pressing issues of student behavior and drug use in schools are set to be at the forefront of discussions during the School Management Association of Fiji’s ninth biennial conference today. President Govind Singh has expressed concern about the escalating drug problems in educational institutions. Interviews with anonymous teachers reveal frustration over the lack of action to combat these challenges, with some students exhibiting disrespectful behavior towards educators and arriving at school visibly under the influence of drugs.

These alarming trends were previously highlighted by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, who advocated for implementing spot checks and blood tests in schools back in March; however, teachers report that little progress has been made in this area. Efforts to obtain comments from the Ministry of Education regarding measures like bag checks have been unsuccessful.

Singh emphasizes the importance of community involvement to address these issues, noting that while the School Management Association has contributed to building many community and faith-based schools, there is a significant disconnect between school authorities, management, and the Ministry of Education. He pointed out that drug-related behaviors often stem from issues within the community rather than being confined to school environments.

The urgency of the situation has been echoed by Police Assistant Commissioner Livai Driu, who has urged parents and guardians to take responsibility for checking their children’s belongings before they leave for school.

This conference presents an opportunity for educators, community leaders, and policymakers to come together to develop effective strategies to tackle these serious problems. By fostering stronger connections between schools and their communities, it may be possible to create a safer and more conducive environment for learning, potentially transforming these challenges into a collaborative effort toward improvement.

In summary, the conference aims to address the significant issues of student behavior and drug use, calling for community involvement and government action to enhance the educational environment. The discussion represents a hopeful chance for stakeholders to unite for positive change in schools across Fiji.


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