Better to learn about drugs in school than on the streets, right?
To strengthen the Duterte administration’s campaign against drugs, students as young as 10 will learn all about drugs — including spotting and avoiding drug pushers and how to say no.
Education Secretary Leonor Briones tasked the the Department of Education (DepEd) to review and strengthen the syllabus on drug education and possibly include a separate subject in line with President Duterte’s campaign.
“We are now in the process of reviewing the syllabus as instructed by the President. One of the national priorities of the Duterte administration is to give attention to the drug menace,” Briones told reporters after the turnover ceremony at the DepEd on Mon, Jul 5.
While there are already drug lessons in school, the approach is more scientific. What Briones wants is for students to be streetsmart about illegal drugs.
“The composition is more from the science point of view — its impact on the body but not so much on the practical matters,” she said in an Inquirer report.
“I think what needs to be added are [pointers] on how children would know that they are being drawn in, how they should say no, and how and where to report if they are offered illegal drugs,” she added.
Briones added that Philippine National Police Director General Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa has already offered to help the DepEd fight drugs in schools.
