VILLAGERS in Tavua shared their strong support for a proposal to declare schools protected zones and empower teachers with legal authority to search students’ belongings to combat the rising drug trade within education centres.
The suggestions were highlighted by the Proposed Narcotics Bill consultant Biu Matavou during a public consultation on the Counter Narcotics Bill held at Tavualevu Village on Friday.
Addressing the community, Mr Matavou cited data released by the Substance Abuse Advisory Council last year, which revealed that approximately 3600 students were involved in drug-related incidents.
“Some of these students pack marijuana in their bags to sell to the children,” he said.
Mr Matavou emphasised the gravity of the situation within school gates.
During the session, Mr Matavou sought the community’s perspective on declaring schools as protected zones to deter dealers and legally empowering teachers to conduct searches on students.
“Secondly to enforce teachers to be empowered by the law to search, I just wanted to get your views on that.”
Tavua villager Maleli Bari welcomed the move, noting that the drug issue has become a widespread reality for most major institutions in the country.
Mr Bari also supported the suggestion for teachers to be given the formal power to inspect students’ bags to ensure schools remain drug-free environments.
