The revelation that drug peddlers are targeting primary school students is alarming.
So it is encouraging to note that the head teacher of a school in Nausori is being proactive.
Paiata Faga, the headteacher of Dilkusha Boys Primary School deserves recognition for his efforts to keep his students safe.
The school took a proactive approach when it discovered drug peddlers were targeting students to push drugs.
He knows about the influence of drugs on young children and feared for the safety of his own students.
That’s why he implemented a school bus system to ensure their safety, along with random spot checks.
He revealed a worrying trend of students being used unwittingly as drug couriers.
It is a disturbing tactic and will attract attention now.
Mr Savukiono is right to be concerned.
The question is whether we all are?
The school is closely working with the police to ensure students are protected and educated about the dangers of drugs.
The support by the permanent secretary for Education Selina Kuruleca for such initiatives emphasises the importance of working together.
There must be unity, and that means all stakeholders taking the initiative to be engaged in the war against drugs.
That means nurturing partnerships between schools and the police.
It means raising awareness about drugs and encouraging parents and guardians to participate in keeping children safe.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Operations, (ACP) Livai Driu said they had launched a program in some schools around the country to safeguard students and raise awareness on drugs.
ACP Driu commended the school’s proactive stance on student safety and is calling on parents to be more vigilant.
Assistant Minister for Education Iliesa Vanawalu revealed in Parliament last week, that two per cent of the 3500 drug related cases received by the National Substance Abuse Advisory Council involved students.
The council has noticed a gradual increase in three years of drug related cases involving students.
Meanwhile, Speaker of Parliament and Cakaudrove high chief Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu raised the idea of government funding towards churches to fight what he terms the “drugs pandemic”.
Ratu Naiqama made the comments in Parliament last week, saying he liked the idea that churches were now involved.
He spoke about real experiences in his village, highlighting what he feels is the need to be engaged.
“It is amazing, even in my village, there is this drug – ice. It is freely exchanged there, but my village is some distance away from Suva,” he remarked.
It is a telling reflection of the extent of the illicit trade.
The revelations expose a national problem. It is good to note the proactive responses.
They give us hope.
But again, we call on the powers that be, to stay on course in terms of setting up rehabilitation centres for addicts and raising awareness at every level of society about the impact of drugs on our people.
