SCHOOLS STILL MAY GET DRUG TESTING

Drug testing of students in ACT government schools has not been ruled
out by Education Minister Bill Stefaniak.

Mr Stefaniak said yesterday the Government would be interested in
seeing how well drug testing systems worked in private schools in NSW
and Victoria.

At an Australian Drug Foundation drugs in school conference last week,
Melbourne Grammar principal Paul Sheehan said the school was likely to
be the first in Melbourne to introduce random drug testing.

Mr Sheehan said that Melbourne Grammar was looking at making testing
an option for students found with drugs who wanted to stay at the school.

The Kings School in Sydney has a system of random drug testing already
in place for students identified as being at risk.

Mr Stefaniak said those private schools had borders which might make
it easier for drugs to infiltrate the system.

But he said the Government would be keen to further investigate the
private schools’ approach to drugs.

"It might end up being quite a good program," he said.

Mr Stefaniak said there were no plans at this stage to drug test
students in ACT government schools.

He said the schools considered a range of options if students were
found with drugs, ranging from compulsory counselling sessions, to
informing the police in the case of illegal substances being detected.

"We don’t expel students in the government sector, they have to have
compulsory education until they are 15," he said.

"If they have a problem, we would try to point them in the right
direction to overcome their addiction."

ACT Council of P and C Associations president Grant Battersby said
that the associations would expect full consultation with the school
communities before the Government considered introducing random drug
testing of students.

"I don’t think it (testing] is a sound approach to the problem of
abuse of drugs," Mr Battersby said.

"Our concern is trying to make sure there is something to help people
overcome their problem."

A drug education framework for ACT schools launched last year advises
primary and high schools to act if students possess tobacco, alcohol
or unsanctioned drugs; inappropriately use prescribed or over the
counter medicines, solvents or inhalants; or supply, sell, exchange or
negotiate in relation to drugs.

In colleges, it says action should be taken against students who smoke
tobacco outside designated areas; possess alcohol if they are under
18; possess alcohol at times or in places not previously approved by
the principal; possess illegal drugs; or inappropriately use
prescribed medicines.