SCHOOL TAKES THE HIGH ROAD IN STAMPING OUT DRUG ABUSE

A Durban high school has taken a tough stance against drug abuse by
becoming the first school in South Africa to have its pupils trained
as anti-drug "marshals".

New West Secondary School in Newlands West, which has more than 1400
pupils, started with its first batch of anti-drug campaigners this week.

Foundation for a Drug Free World, an international non-governmental
organisation, is running the programme.

The first batch of 28 pupils are among 120 pupils from five Newlands
West high schools taking part in the programme, paid for by the
foundation and private sponsors, and will earn their "drug-free
marshal" stripes next week.

The rest of the pupils at New West Secondary are set to complete
their training this week and graduate in batches.

The marshals have been trained to identify drugs by their street
names and appearance, and to counsel users and look out for symptoms
of drug use.

Principal Farouk Bayat said his school decided to be "proactive
about the drug problem in Newlands rather than reactive".

Bayat said while he couldn't totally put paid to drug abuse at the
school, a programme of this nature would educate pupils and help reduce abuse.

Teacher Roslyn Narain-Mohan, who last year won the education
category in the annual Shoprite/Checkers Woman of the Year award,
said: "This programme has given our pupils a reality check and has
shown them that they aren't as informed about drugs as they thought."