SCOTS PUPILS FACE RANDOM DRUG TESTS

Plan To Bring Blair's Crackdown Here

SCOTS schoolkids will face random drug tests under new plans being
considered by ministers.

The Executive confirmed they would study moves to give head teachers in
England powers to test for drugs at school.

Yesterday, Tony Blair said heads would be given new guidelines on dealing
with pupils suspected of drug-taking.

The PM said the clampdown would specifically give them the power to carry
out random drug testing at their schools.

Blair added: 'If heads believe they have a problem in their school, then
they should be able to do random drug testing.'

An Executive spokesman said teachers in Scotland were aware of the need to
look out for signs of drug-taking in schools.

He added: 'However, we'll look at any proposals put forward south of the
Border to see if there is anything we can learn from them. We are not
ruling it out.'

SNP education spokeswoman Fiona Hyslop said the move was an option which
had not been thought through properly and was a Labour 'knee-jerk'
reaction. She said: 'There is no demand for this type of testing from
schools or parents and these proposals do not make sense in the wider
education policy.

'Random testing could increase truancy because children who were using
drugs would be too scared to go to school. It would drive the problem
underground rather than do anything to solve it.

'There must be a full consultation process with teachers and parents before
any action is taken to introduce this practice in schools and the Scottish
Executive must take any concerns very seriously.'

There was also opposition from teaching unions and school governors.

Alan Smith, president of the Scottish School Boards Association, said: 'I
would be concerned that this could be introduced without consulting parents
properly.' And David Eaglesham, president of the Scottish Secondary
Teachers' Association, said: 'It's quite nonsensical.'

But Tory justice spokeswoman Annabel Goldie cautiously welcomed the
proposal.She said: 'It is a harsh reality we have to face up to.'

Meanwhile, it emerged yesterday that teachers across Scotland are to be
sent on courses to help them spot anorexia.

lThe Executive yesterday announced plans to put more than 1000 new teachers
into classrooms by 2007 in a bid to cut class sizes and raise attainment
levels.

Education minister Peter Peacock said the move would reduce class sizes to
20 pupils for maths and English in secondary schools, and take primary one
class sizes down to 25.