News (Media Awareness Project) - Thailand: Schools In Thailand Hotbed Of Drug Dealing |
| Title: | Thailand: Schools In Thailand Hotbed Of Drug Dealing |
| Published On: | 2000-09-08 |
| Source: | Straits Times (Singapore) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-03 09:27:18 |
SCHOOLS IN THAILAND HOTBED OF DRUG DEALING
Researcher Says Poor Classroom Structure And Facilities Are To Blame, With Many Students Becoming Dealers During "Golden Hours' Before Classes
BANGKOK -- Drug abuse is rampant in Thai schools because of poor classroom management, badly located toilets and an authoritarian school culture, a researcher has found.
The "golden hour" for drug dealing is between 10 am and 11 am -- just before classes begin, Mrs Jirapan Traithipcharas, of the General Education Department noted.
More students have turned themselves from users to dealers and they have come up with more than 30 ways to hide and pass drugs to their clients.
Drug rackets are thus expanding, leading to extortion and violence, the Bangkok Post reported.
"Who would have imagined that the fact that children have to go to toilets located outside the main buildings and the fact that children have to change rooms at every class will give them opportunities to deal in drugs," said Mrs Jirapan.
The findings were presented in one of four research papers released by the department after a two-year study.
Mrs Jirapan said the findings showed that a management style which demanded absolute obedience created a gap between teachers and children.
"The social structure in a school which requires total control keeps teachers and students at a distance. A lack of caring and understanding helps promote drug abuse," she said.
One paper said schools were not cooperative enough when fighting drugs or they did it the wrong way.
Most school activities encouraging students to stay away from drugs are useless, said Mrs Jirapan.
"The most popular activity is holding anti-narcotics exhibitions, which is a waste of money."
Mrs Jirapan said that schools are not interested in activities such as camping which will help strengthen coordination and relationships and indirectly curb drug-related activities.
She added that most children wanted schools to promote sports and other such activities in which parents and teachers could participate.
And the researcher is troubled that more than 90 per cent of schools have failed to seek police help.
Mrs Jirapan said the findings would be considered by department executives working on a new plan to combat drugs.
Researcher Says Poor Classroom Structure And Facilities Are To Blame, With Many Students Becoming Dealers During "Golden Hours' Before Classes
BANGKOK -- Drug abuse is rampant in Thai schools because of poor classroom management, badly located toilets and an authoritarian school culture, a researcher has found.
The "golden hour" for drug dealing is between 10 am and 11 am -- just before classes begin, Mrs Jirapan Traithipcharas, of the General Education Department noted.
More students have turned themselves from users to dealers and they have come up with more than 30 ways to hide and pass drugs to their clients.
Drug rackets are thus expanding, leading to extortion and violence, the Bangkok Post reported.
"Who would have imagined that the fact that children have to go to toilets located outside the main buildings and the fact that children have to change rooms at every class will give them opportunities to deal in drugs," said Mrs Jirapan.
The findings were presented in one of four research papers released by the department after a two-year study.
Mrs Jirapan said the findings showed that a management style which demanded absolute obedience created a gap between teachers and children.
"The social structure in a school which requires total control keeps teachers and students at a distance. A lack of caring and understanding helps promote drug abuse," she said.
One paper said schools were not cooperative enough when fighting drugs or they did it the wrong way.
Most school activities encouraging students to stay away from drugs are useless, said Mrs Jirapan.
"The most popular activity is holding anti-narcotics exhibitions, which is a waste of money."
Mrs Jirapan said that schools are not interested in activities such as camping which will help strengthen coordination and relationships and indirectly curb drug-related activities.
She added that most children wanted schools to promote sports and other such activities in which parents and teachers could participate.
And the researcher is troubled that more than 90 per cent of schools have failed to seek police help.
Mrs Jirapan said the findings would be considered by department executives working on a new plan to combat drugs.
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