Muniappa Gounder, the general secretary of the Fiji Teachers Union, is advocating for schools to carry out spot checks as part of a comprehensive strategy to combat illegal drug use among students. He highlighted the necessity for vigilance among parents, urging them to actively monitor what their children bring to school.
His call to action follows an incident last week where primary school students were reported to the police for allegedly using marijuana. Mr. Gounder stated, “Parents need to check what their children are taking to school.” He emphasized the need for regular spot checks to scrutinize students and items brought to school, which would help identify banned substances and foster an understanding among students about the repercussions of such actions.
Expressing worry over the rising number of drug-related incidents, he remarked, “There are so many cases, yet nothing significant is being done. Spot checks are crucial in this fight.” Additionally, he called for greater cooperation from local law enforcement to enhance awareness within educational institutions.
“Disciplined forces should actively patrol schools to educate students about the dangers of drug use,” he added. He insisted that drug awareness efforts must extend beyond a single week and should be an ongoing initiative.
Mr. Gounder underscored the critical role of education in informing children about the detrimental effects of drugs, asserting that this should be a primary focus for both schools and the wider community.
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