Four primary school students were reportedly found smoking marijuana during a recent athletics event and have since received counseling. Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations Livai Driu confirmed the incident, urging parents and guardians to maintain ongoing discussions with their children about the serious consequences of illegal drug use.
The students were discovered with smoking devices in a restroom and were subsequently referred to security officials at the event before police were notified. ACP Driu stated that the students’ parents were alerted about the situation, and the youths have been counseled regarding the implications of their actions. He emphasized the importance of parental guidance during this critical experimental phase of their lives, warning that without proper advice, children may seek information from unreliable sources that could lead them astray.
In response to the incident, Muniappa Goundar, the general secretary of the Fiji Teachers Union, has called for an increase in the number of school counselors. He expressed concern about the situation, highlighting the vital role counselors play in supporting not just academic performance but also behavior and child development. Goundar noted that there is currently only one counselor available per division, which is insufficient given the number of schools. He advocated for a comprehensive approach to educating students about the dangers of drugs, suggesting that it should be integrated into the school curriculum.