Students faced issues such as sexual abuse and depression during school closure – Kumar

Education Minister Premila Kumar has today revealed in parliament that some of the pressing issues identified with students during the school closure were sexual abuse at home and in their communities, mental health and depression.

This is according to the data collected by the National Substance Abuse Advisory Council.

While responding to Government MP, Selai Adimaitoga who had asked for an update on the counselling services provided by the National Substance Abuse Advisory Council to students during this pandemic, Kumar says students also reported challenges they faced from their own families such as neglect, abuse, break-up or relocation.

Kumar says they also got reports about students using drugs in the school compound.

The Minister further highlighted that students displayed violent behavior, some students were cyber-bullied by other students on social media through the use of vulgar words and sex related clips.

Kumar says teenage pregnancy also increased during the lockdown.

Kumar highlighted that the counseling services were provided by the 4 divisional counselors, 33 teacher counselors, 913 trained child protection officers and NGO’s such as Empower Pacific, Lifeline Fiji and Medical Services Pacific.