SCHOOLS TO PLAY BIGGER ROLE IN FIGHT AGAINST DRUG ABUSE

"Education is the best way to protect against drug abuse," said Pehin
Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Ghani bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Dewa Dato Paduka
Haji Abdul Rahim, the Managing Director of Yayasan Sultan Haji
Hassanal Bolkiah.

He said this during the prize presentation ceremony for several
anti-drug competitions for Primary and Secondary schools.

With the cooperation of the Narcotics Control Bureau, Royal Brunei
Police Force and other government bodies, a unit has been established
under the Ministry of Education to tackle the scourge of drug abuse
amongst students.

One of the implemented programmes was the Anti-Drug Abuse Action Group
which organised two anti-drug abuse themed competitions for both
Primary and Secondary schools.

The two competitions were the Arch Construction and the Wall Mural.
The competitions hoped to curb the problem of drug abuse amongst
students by creating an awareness about the dangers of drug abuse.

It also hoped to encourage students to resist the lure of
drugs.

Although the competition was in its early stages, the group expressed
hope that in the future more schools would participate.

In the Anti-Drug Abuse Action Group competition, Maktab Sains Paduka
Seri Begawan Sultan emerged champions, with Sayyidina Husain Secondary
School coming in second.

The Sultan Hassan Secondary School came in third.

In the Arch Construction competition, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien
College were first, while Perdana Wazir Secondary School were second
and Sayyidina Husain Secondary School third.

For the Wall Mural competition, Sinaut Primary School were champions,
with Lumapas Primary School in second place and Jerudong Primary
School in third.

Prizes were presented by the guest of honour, Pehin Dato Paduka Haji
Abdul Ghani.