Children affected by drugs should not simply be labelled as problem students, but supported through prevention, protection, education, accountability and compassion.
This has been highlighted by Chantelle Khan, the Commissioner for the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission while speaking at the Speaking at the Fiji Headteachers’ Association 43rd Annual Conference.
While drawing attention to the growing challenges of drugs and HIV, particularly their impact on children and young people, Khan says prevention must begin early, including in primary schools, through age-appropriate education, building resilience and critical thinking, strengthening children's ability to resist peer pressure and ensuring children know where and how to seek help.
The Commission is also calling for stronger investment in early prevention, child safeguarding and inclusive education, stressing that Fiji’s response to emerging challenges affecting children must begin in the classroom.
Khan says children are not merely future citizens but rights-holders today, and schools must be places where education, dignity, equality, safety and human rights come together.
The Commissioner described teachers as agents of change, recognising the critical role they play not only in educating children, but also in creating safe, supportive and rights-respecting school environments.
She acknowledged the growing pressures on teachers, including overcrowded classrooms and increasing workloads, drug and substance-use challenges, Fiji’s HIV crisis and greater child safeguarding and well-being responsibilities.
Khan says teachers cannot carry these challenges alone and they must be supported, equipped and empowered.
The Commission stresses teachers and headteachers are key frontline actors in translating children’s rights into everyday reality, in classrooms, playgrounds and school communities.
Khan says their role includes listening to children, recognising warning signs, responding appropriately and connecting children with protection and support.
She acknowledged the increasing pressures faced by teachers and school leaders, including overcrowded classrooms, growing workloads, drug and substance-use challenges, Fiji’s HIV crisis and increasing child safeguarding responsibilities.
The Commission highlighted that under the Convention on the Rights of the Child, teachers and headteachers are important frontline actors in helping fulfil the State’s obligations towards children.
This includes ensuring that the best interests of the child guide decisions and protecting children's rights to education, dignity, non-discrimination and freedom from violence, abuse and neglect.
The presentation also highlighted findings from the Commission's Baseline Study on Children with Disabilities in Fiji, which found that while Fiji has made progress through laws, policies and awareness initiatives, many rights guaranteed under international human rights conventions are yet to be fully realised for all children with disabilities.
The Commission called for stronger inclusive education, compulsory disability-inclusive training and safe, accessible and inclusive school environments.
They reiterated that protecting children is a shared national responsibility and that schools have a powerful role in shaping Fiji’s future.
Khan says the most powerful response to Fiji’s drug crisis may not begin in a police station; the response to HIV may not begin in a hospital, adding it may begin in a classroom.
