Fiji has a total of 207,000 students, with the Fiji Police reporting 3,519 cases, or 1.7%, involved in drug use, both legal and illegal. This statistic was shared by the Permanent Secretary of Education, Selina Kuruleca, during a presentation of the Ministry’s 2022 Audit Report on the Social Services Sector to the Public Accounts Committee.
Kuruleca noted that 98 percent, or 202,860 students, have not used drugs, and the Ministry aims to raise this figure to 99 percent over the next year through effective policies and enhanced collaboration with stakeholders.
Additionally, discussions took place in March 2024 between the Ministry and the Fiji Police Dog Unit regarding random drug checks in larger schools or those identified as high-risk areas. However, Kuruleca mentioned that the Police were unable to provide this type of assistance.
The arrangement with the Police was to ensure support for maintaining drug-free environments at major sporting events such as the Fiji Finals Competition, the DEANS Competition, as well as significant basketball and hockey matches. Kuruleca indicated that these gatherings sometimes lead to arrests for the possession of illicit substances.
To address the growing concern of drug use among students, Kuruleca emphasized the importance of creative solutions from stakeholders. The Ministry of Education convened a Stakeholders Taskforce for the first time, aiming to collectively establish clear indicators and develop an Action Plan.
Kuruleca concluded with a call to action, stating, “It was time to act and enough talking.” The newly formed Stakeholder Taskforce plans to reconvene in eight weeks.