Muniappa Gounder, the general secretary of the Fiji Teachers Union, is calling on school administrations to implement spot checks as part of a robust strategy to combat the use of illicit drugs among students. He highlighted the critical role of vigilance and urged parents to play an active role in supervising what their children bring to school.
Gounder’s remarks come in the wake of an incident where some primary school students were referred to the police last week for alleged marijuana use. He stated, “Parents need to check what their children are taking to school.”
He advocated for regular spot checks to ensure comprehensive scrutiny of students and their belongings. According to Gounder, this approach would help identify prohibited items and foster an understanding among students about the consequences of bringing such items to school. He expressed alarm over the rising number of drug-related incidents, noting, “There are so many cases, yet nothing significant is being done. Spot checks are crucial in this fight.”
Additionally, he called for greater involvement from local law enforcement to enhance drug awareness in schools. “Disciplined forces should actively patrol schools to educate students about the dangers of drug use,” he added. He emphasized that drug awareness initiatives should not be limited to a single week but should be a sustained effort.
Gounder also underscored the importance of education, stressing the need to inform children about the harmful effects of drugs as a priority for both schools and communities.
Leave a comment