RESOURCE BOOKS ON DRUGS OUT

The Department of Education, Culture, and Sports (DECS) will give over
15,000 free resource books on drug education and prevention to
selected public elementary schools nationwide this schoolyear as part
of the Estrada administration's campaign against drug abuse.

Education Undersecretary Dindo Manhit said under the National Drug
Education Program of the DECS-School Health and Nutrition Center, the
books were developed by curriculum writers as resource materials or
reference manual for teachers.

Under the program, lessons on drug abuse prevention and control are
integrated in the elementary school curricula through Health and
Science subjects.

Manhit said the program is being implemented in coordination with the
Dangerous Drug Board (DDB).

The program is meant to: prevent drug abuse among students in all
levels of education through the development of desirable values,
attitudes, and practices; maximize utilization of school resources;
strengthen parent and community participation through linkages with
multisectoral organizations; and provide in-service and pre-service
training of teachers and other school officials to help young people
enhance positive self-concept, value system, and decision-making skills.

To strengthen its campaign against drug abuse, DECS is implementing
other programs such as Utilization of the Drug Abuse Prevention
Integrated in Scouting Kit (DISK) among scouts and the Search for KID
Listo among public elementary school children.