Students on Koro Island have been discovered engaging in marijuana possession and distribution within Koro High School, as revealed by Tevita Vunileba, the chairman of the Koro Island Crime Prevention Committee.
In a recent interview, Vunileba indicated that earlier in the year, school teachers, police, and the committee worked together to identify these students and provided them with counseling. Some of these students were instructed to transfer to different schools, while others faced expulsion.
Vunileba noted that certain students had been acting as intermediaries for marijuana dealers, with multiple middlemen involved in the process. “The money from the sale circulates through these middlemen before reaching the hands of the initial supplier,” he explained.
Investigations indicated that many of the students involved were repeat offenders, having been suspended multiple times prior to their expulsion. Vunileba mentioned ongoing concerns from villagers about the potential influence these students could have on younger primary school peers.
He also highlighted the positive impact of the cadet program introduced at Koro High School, which he believes has instilled discipline among the students. “This year, Koro High School started the cadet program, and we are thankful. It has changed the students in many ways,” Vunileba stated.
As part of the cadet day preparations, he was asked to set an example by cutting his hair, which he did, much to the satisfaction of parents.