Permanent Secretary for Education, Alison Burchell says that it is a concern for the ministry that students can get recipes for drugs such as methamphetamine on the dark web while its ingredients can be bought from pharmacies and hardware stores.
While answering questions from SODELPA MP, Salote Radrodro in the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Social Affairs on the concern regarding the increased emergence of hard drugs in schools, Burchell said the ministry is in the process of developing brochures for teachers so that they are aware of the signs of drug addiction in students.
The ministry will also involve Police who will identify schools along the Suva-Nausori corridor where they will involve former drug addicts to talk to students on the issue of drug addiction and its dangers.
She adds that the US Embassy will also provide educational kits for schools to create awareness on drug related issues.
Burchell says she hopes these brochures and kits will be available in schools by next year.
She also says teachers are being trained to recognise the signs of addiction and abuse so that they can be referred to relevant assistance providers.
Burchell also confirmed that there is a need for more counselors for students as there are only two counselors in the Western and Eastern divisions.
Burchell also adds that the ministry is involved in the process of turning 36 teachers into qualified counselors to address the issue of drug prevalence and other issues among students.
She says these teachers are in the second year of their training at the Australia Pacific Training Coalition that will certify them to Australian standards of counseling.
Burchell adds that there is a need for a combined approach from all ministries and stakeholders so that students do not get addicted to illicit substances.
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