76 schools install CCTV as Ministry confirms drug tests in schools a work in progress

As more students in schools are being found with drugs, 46 primary schools and 30 secondary schools have installed CCTV cameras to monitor student activities and movements and Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro has confirmed that drug tests in schools is a work in progress.

While responding to a question in Parliament by Opposition MP Hem Chand on the steps taken by the Ministry to monitor the trafficking of drugs in schools, Radrodro says there are standard operating procedures in place, and teachers and heads of schools have been trained by the National Substance Abuse and Advisory Council to identify symptoms and signs, including physical indicators of substance abuse and drug trafficking in schools.

He says through the Council, they have also conducted a drug training of trainers to assistant principals, assistant headteachers, and child protection officers for secondary and large primary schools.

Radrodro says this training was also conducted in 162 secondary schools and 46 primary schools in the last fiscal year where 928 student leaders have also been trained on how to identify the signs of students using drugs during their leadership training.

The Minister also confirms that mentoring support is provided as well to the students with drug-related issues on a weekly basis by retired teachers who are engaged on a part-time basis with the Council.

He says parents are always part of the counselling and mentoring programs, guiding them on how they can help their children while at their homes.

While highlighting 2,422 drug cases in 2021, which increased to 2,823 and then 3,500 in subsequent years, with 2,500 cases from secondary schools and 1,000 from primary schools, Chand says given the number of schools in Fiji, there is a need for more trained counsellors, and he asks if the government is considering allocating clusters of schools to counsellors to reduce the number of schools each counsellor is responsible for.

Radrodro says they will work with the other government agencies, especially the Fiji Police Force in identifying areas that need counselling, especially red zone schools, to assist them in identifying places where the Ministry need to put in these counsellors.

Opposition MP Premila Kumar also asked whether there is any plan to do drug tests in schools, so the particular child can be pulled out, counselled better with the parents, before that child influences many others into drugs.