The Ministry for Education is considering introducing drug testing kits in schools to combat the rising issue of illicit drug use among students.
This has been highlighted by Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro while responding to the question raised by the Opposition Member, Rinesh Sharma if the school management and teachers would be provided with drug testing kits.
Radrodro says these are some additional areas that might be considered by the ministry in discussion with the relevant ministries like the Ministry for Health and Ministry for Home Affairs to ensure they are not putting themselves at risk with teachers undertaking these additional responsibilities.
He says the responsibility of disciplining students in the Ministry for Education is confined only to the school boundary or the school organised school activities within boundaries whereby teachers monitor students' actions.
The Minister says once the students walk out of the school gate, it is considered a public area, and the activity becomes the responsibility of other government agencies like the Police, and the Ministry for Social Welfare.
There were 3,500 cases of substance abuse in schools last year compared to 2,400 in 2021 and 2,800 in 2022.
