Four primary school students allegedly caught smoking marijuana during a recent athletics meet have received counseling. Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations Livai Driu confirmed the incident. He urged parents and guardians to have continuous conversations with their children about the serious consequences of drug use.
The students were discovered with smoking implements in a bathroom and were subsequently referred to the event’s security personnel before the police were notified. ACP Driu stated that the parents of the students had been informed and highlighted the importance of guidance during this experimental phase in their lives. He warned that without proper support, children might turn to unreliable sources for advice, potentially leading them down a harmful path.
In response to the incident, Muniappa Goundar, general secretary of the Fiji Teachers Union, called for an increase in the number of school counselors. He expressed concern over the situation and emphasized the vital role counselors play in not only academic struggles but also in addressing behavior and overall child development. Goundar noted the inadequate availability of counselors, with only one designated for each division, which overwhelms the limited resources available. He advocated for a broader educational approach to understanding drugs and their detrimental effects, suggesting that this topic be integrated into the school curriculum.